Photo : Véronique Orens, Architect & CoFounder of YUGENING. Aka Captain.
12: My knees look fat.
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your interest in my story. I’m delighted to answer the questions of The Heroine’s Journey. Before I begin, however, a small warning: I will not be answering alone.
My Inner Critic (Architype 12) insisted on joining us.
12: Hi!
Inconvenient, I know. But by now, I’ve learned how to manage her presence.
I used to believe being a heroine meant eliminating fear. But my journey of nearly fifty years (a milestone I will reach later this year) has led me to make my inner Critic visible.
12: I kept you safe for 50 years!
I guess my heroine moment was not when the Inner Critic disappeared, but when I decided to name her.
Because, as Yoda said: “Named must your fear be before you can banish it.”
Once I could recognize the Inner Critic for what she was, a harsh voice trying to keep me safe, she lost her authority. I now just listen to her without obeying her. And this has made my life a lot more interesting.
My team began recognizing their own Critics too, in themselves and in each other. Since then, we hesitate less and decision making has become easier. As a result, we’re able to do more genuinely heroic work through our architecture studio. Sometimes, it really is that simple. So yes, I will occasionally let her speak. Though I may intervene when necessary. She’s not exactly known for her uplifting tone. After all, I’m a professional architect. I do have a reputation to uphold.
12: What reputation?
Like I said, she’s not exactly the cheerful type. Enjoy reading my journey.
Greetings from Belgium,
Véronique Orens
Architect & Co-Founder of YUGENING
What is the best thing that I love about my work?
The best thing about my work is that I get to work together with my husband and co-founder, architect Koen Van Grimbergen. He has that intuitive sense of proportion and soul that keeps me in admiration. Even after 22 years. And when a client asks: “Can you design a building where our people thrive?”, that is when we know the journey together will be exceptional. Because visionary leaders who ask that question truly understand that return on investment is not primarily about minimizing construction costs or energy consumption.
They know the real leverage is: PEOPLE. Designing spaces that uplift people is what we do best. What follows is always the same: teams flourish, talent stays, profit goes up. Call it magic, or simply common sense. Many of those visionary clients have become lifelong friends. And when we meet again, often over dinner, we love listening to their success stories. In those moments my husband and I know the architecture did its part of the work.
What is my idea of happiness?
“The discovery is the privilege of the child who has never grown up, who remains in a state of wonderment, and who is not afraid to look like an idiot.” – Alexander Grothendieck.
That’s my idea of happiness: to be surrounded by open-minded, visionary people who have kept their inner child alive. Who are curious, bold, often awkward, yet brilliant. The kind of people with whom you can flip instantly from a highly scientific discussion to a ridiculous little dance…and nobody feels embarrassed.
12: I do!
Where you can say something half-formed without fear. Because everyone understands that creating something new means risking being wrong. Those moments when ideas spark and laughter brings tears to your eyes because of all the failing forward, that is happiness to me.
What is my greatest fear?
Besides the obvious fear of losing my family, I used to be afraid of being misunderstood. But that fear belonged to my Inner Critic, the part afraid her carefully built reputation might collapse. She no longer runs the show.
12: Oh please. This isn’t about me. This is your ego talking.
Perhaps. But my deeper fear is this: that I would shrink my vision to make others comfortable. That I would design safely instead of bravely. Because if I play small, I cannot ask others to step into their strength. My vision is that we need to focus on 2 levels : The first level is architecture. A space is never neutral. It either strengthens you or slowly drains you. If we want people to think clearly, collaborate, and act with courage, their surroundings must support that. Because if environments don’t support wellbeing, companies end up paying for it in turnover, burnout and disengagement.
The second is mindset. That’s why I make the Inner Critic visible. As long as fear and self-doubt remain unnamed, they quietly run the show. And when fear leads, people hesitate. They wait. Or worse: they don’t do anything at all. That means: Status quo, no progress whatsoever. If we can work on those 2 domains, we can stimulate people to take responsibility. They stop waiting for others, or “they”, to come and save us. Because there is no “they.” There is only us. So my greatest fear is becoming comfortable with playing small.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
For a long time, it was a lack of confidence. I’m naturally empathetic, but before I anchored that empathy in self-worth, my boundaries were too soft and easily stepped over. Over time, Courage helped me recalibrate that. But it took me more than 47 years. I suppose it was the necessary struggle I had to endure in order to find the courage to fully be who I truly am. To realize that being different is a strength.
Today, the trait I struggle with most is impatience. When I see potential, in people, projects, the world, I want it to unfold immediately. After spending all this time not fully owning my potential (watching opportunities pass while I was busy pleasing others) I sometimes feel an urge to accelerate everything. I have had to learn that growth has its own rhythm. That courage cannot be forced. And managing that impatience is still a daily discipline.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?
The grown-up children. The ones who never allowed professionalism to kill their imagination. The ones who are sometimes labeled “less serious” because they still dare to play. But that’s like saying Walt Disney, Jim Henson or Grace Jones weren’t professionals. On the contrary. They were extremely professional! And radically committed to their vision.
12: Comparing yourself to Grace Jones?
Yes, I would love to become the Grace Jones of Architecture, unapologetically colorful. Because those are the people I admire most: the creatives who protect their inner child while mastering their craft.
12: The Miss Piggy of Architecture!
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
I’m done with the obsession with short-term cost savings disguised as intelligence. While overlooking long-term value for people and planet. Because the hidden cost of sterile environments is turnover, burnout, and constant talent acquisition. Too often, I see architecture reduced to efficiency alone. Soulless concrete boxes justified by spreadsheets. Sold as efficiency. Solar panels and geothermal systems added merely to earn the label ‘sustainability.? Oh, cut the crap.
12: Oh la la… getting angry? Careful or people won’t like you anymore.
But I’m not angry at people. I’m frustrated by a system that confuses “cheap” with “smart.” In only a few decades, those soulless buildings will be demolished again. Because no one loved them. We see it everywhere. That is not sustainability. That is accounting.
12: Wake up, Véronique! It’s all about ROI!
But real return on investment lies in people. In most organizations, roughly 90% of the total cost is human capital. When people feel supported by their environment, they stay longer. They collaborate better. They are more productive. And that’s when ROI goes up! Buildings outlive budgets. Real sustainability is about creating buildings that deserve to remain. Buildings that inspire people, while uplifting them. Without the greenwashing. Visionary clients understand this. They invest accordingly.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
When I look back, it was always in the small moments. Like the time we didn’t have enough money to buy a proper A3 colour laser printer. We found one at an auction for a fraction of the price. Not knowing if it would work. And whatever we sent to it, nothing happened. Until the next morning: A full set of renderings was waiting for us on the printer. We jumped into each other’s arms. We had to rush to a client meeting that very morning, and suddenly, we had everything we needed. Those moments felt electric.
And yes, the times we went all in for a competition and won (David versus Goliath style), those moments gave us wings. We knew the only way we could compete was by being radically different from the bigger players. And when that difference was rewarded, it confirmed that being different was our strength. Those moments were pure joy.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
If I could change something, I wish I would have trusted myself earlier. It took me years to realize that my way of thinking, focussing as an architect on the wellbeing of people, was not a weakness but an asset. If I had embraced that sooner, perhaps I would have started playing big earlier.
12: Too late honey! You’re almost 50!
And I’m just getting started.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
I know for a fact that my greatest achievement is still ahead of me. I’m not planning to retire any time soon. As long as my work feels like my hobby, I will keep building. Until my last breath. But the greatest achievement until now? The Precedent. A high-rise building on Avenue Louise in Brussels where we achieved what many thought was impossible: we kept the existing concrete structure in our design, even though all odds were against it.
Yugening Architecture about The Precedent Brussels. (Interview recorded in 2024. After decades of designing at the intersection of health and architecture, that year marked a turning point: I now articulate openly what has always been the core of our work.)
Although demolition would have been the easiest solution. The floor heights were limited, and the technical requirements huge. Yet we refused to accept that reuse was not an option. Because if it was possible here, then it should be possible anywhere else. It wasn’t easy. The struggle was real. But we did it. This project represents more than a building. It represents a shift in mindset. Not a flashy iconic statement, but genuine sustainability, by reusing what was already there. Looking back, I can see how this project mirrored my own process. We chose not to demolish what already existed, but to work with it. To strengthen it. To embrace the so-called “flaws.” And perhaps that was the beginning of me doing the same.
Where would I most like to live?
I love Antwerp. Its human scale is exactly what draws me to it: intimate, walkable, connected. But even more, it’s the soul of the city. The layers of history, shaped over centuries, with scars, grandeur and beauty. That lived-in authenticity gives it depth. Unfortunately, the weather here does not always invite you to live outside. But Arizona does. Would love to live in places like Sedona or Lake Powell, where you’ll find the combination of water and canyons with their red tones and immense scale. That’s another level.
What is my most treasured possession?
There is only one object I would run back for if the house were on fire: a golden necklace with a lion pendant. My grandmother gave it to me on her deathbed. The lion is my zodiac sign, which was also hers. The pendant is hollow, because she never could afford a solid one. When it moves during the day, it makes a soft hollow sound. I’ve always loved that detail. It reminds me to stay humble.
12: Humble… you’re wearing couture on your intro picture!
What is my most marked characteristic?
I am very playful. At first, I may come across as a rather serious adult; composed and disciplined. But the moment I feel safe with you, and I see that sparkle in your eyes, my inner child shows up. And suddenly the conversation becomes lighter, more real. I love that moment; when people allow themselves to drop the mask and simply be who they are. Joy amplifies and Ideas start to flow. Like children using their imagination.
12: Bye bye big projects!
I don’t think so. I don’t believe creativity thrives in permanent seriousness. A little playfulness keeps imagination alive. And I have to admit I’m an embarrassingly bad drinker… Just one cocktail, and the very young version of me becomes… slightly more visible.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
A small square called De Wilde Zee, in the old centre of Antwerp. Whenever I’m there, I order a portion of sea snails (‘karakollen’) at a local stand and settle on a bench, simply watching the city move around me. Almost every time, someone starts a conversation. Once, an Indian ‘guru’ told me he had a “divine message” for me. That I’m on a mission and will work on it until I’m 93.
12: And then he asked for money.
Yes, that’s how it goes. And one time two charming ladies insisted I would have been a better choice to play Callas in the film Maria. Or a Lebanese couple struck up a conversation, and we’ve been friends ever since. Even a random dog once decided I was good company. Or I meet people I already know. I suppose that’s what happens when you pause long enough to be available.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?
Botanic Sanctuary, Antwerp. Yes, some would call this 5-star hotel a “m’as-tu-vu” place; a place to see and be seen. But there is something undeniable about it. It used to be a convent, dating back to the 13th century. Places like that carry memories. They have a depth that newer buildings rarely achieve. A soul. And the way it was renovated was done with great respect for its past. I have met friends for life there; artists, visionary entrepreneurs, remarkable women, free spirits from everywhere in the world. It feels like a melting pot for really interesting people who don’t quite fit into one box. And I suppose I’m one of them.
12: Uhm…
Oh, shut up!
What books influenced my life and how?
All of the books I finished, I suppose. I read widely. I learned all I know about health, spirituality, philosophy, food, biophilic architecture through hundreds of books over the years. Funny enough, I probably own more books about health and philosophy than about architecture. Understanding how you can improve health always felt like the deeper assignment. If I have to name one book that truly shifted something in me, it would be The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. I had to reread it 3 times to remind me to care less what others think of me and go my own way.
12: Of all the philosophic books you’ve read, this is the one you mention??
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
Bright eyes by Art Garfunkel. Brings me to tears every single time. It’s about how easily the light can fade from someone’s eyes, if they give up hope. I’m very sensitive to things like that.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
The Childlike Empress from The NeverEnding Story (1984). I was eight years old when I first saw the film, and I knew immediately: she was who I wanted to become. Vulnerable, yet strong. Empathetic and sooo beautiful, so elegant. The film contains one of the most traumatic scenes for many children of my generation: Artax (the white horse, remember?) sinking in the Swamp of Sadness. What makes this scene so unbearable is not just the loss itself, but what it represents: the moment when trying feels pointless. The moment hope begins to fade.
And yet, The Childlike Empress never stops believing. She trusts that the protagonist will use his imagination to save Fantasia, and, in doing so, the real world as well, even when almost everything seems lost. That is why she remains my heroine. She represents the quiet strength of holding hope when everything suggests you shouldn’t. Exactly what the world needs now. Especially now.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
People who dare to be bold. Courageous. Unapologetically authentic. Think of Iris Apfel, Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo,… Women who walked through the mud, rose like a phoenix, and remained empathetic, kind, forgiving. That, to me, is real strength: staying soft in a world that can be harsh, staying generous when you could have turned bitter. Game-changers like Jeanne d’Arc, Grace Jones, Nina Simone, Vivienne Westwood. Or men like Freddie Mercury, Prince, Elton John, David Bowie,… They all refused to shrink, even when they were ridiculed at first. They remind me that authenticity often looks strange before it looks visionary. First they laugh, then they copy.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?
Like I mentioned earlier, The Neverending Story. A fantasy movie from 1984, based on the beststeller novel by Michael Ende. A film that reminds us that when imagination collapses, the real world follows. And that only those who dare to dream can save both Fantasia and reality itself.
What role do stories play in my life and work?
Everything. I’m endlessly fascinated by other people’s success stories, especially the part no one posts about: the failing forward. The struggle and the refinement, again and again. That’s where real growth happens. And I’m no different. People often think my life is perfect.
That I have it all together and that it was always easy. Oh boy… if only they knew.
12: They don’t. So keep it that way.
I was a nerd my whole life, a chubby one. Bullied. An underdog with a vivid imagination and a cat. Until one day, at the age of 15, I read ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ by Louise Hay. That book made me realize that change is not passive. You take responsibility for your own development. By the time I went to study Architecture, I had changed. A lot. Physically, but not mentally. I remained the weird student, the one who kept integrating health into her designs. Because I had experienced what it did to me. I always kept searching for other ways to improve wellbeing in architecture, which wasn’t always easy. Especially when mentioning things like earth waves or Feng Shui… The architecture department was not ready for that.
12: Delete the esoteric concepts!
But that path slowly shaped me into an architect who understands wellbeing as a lived experience. Although it took me until March 2024 to fully accept that role, unapologetically. And now it’s my mission to help others. We build spaces that uplift you, that allow you to rise. That’s why I renamed our architecture studio to YUGENING. Derived from the Japanese word YUGEN, which means ‘An awareness of the universe, too deep and too emotional for words’. We turned it into a verb. Because becoming aware of the universe, in other words of your own power, is a never-ending process: a YUGENING Journey. And it starts with YU.
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?
For years, Koen and I tried to fit into a corporate world that rewards conformity.
And that often mistakes empathy for weakness. And then you hit rock bottom. The kind that finally allows you to say: enough is enough.
Since then, we started designing our environments intentionally, from scratch, questioning the foundations before building again. Systems shape people, and we wanted to shape systems differently. Because if we truly want impact, beyond sustainable buildings or beautiful spaces, we have to go deeper. We need imagination again. The intuitive kind that blends courage with curiosity.
But I often feel the world lacks people who dare to remain fully themselves. Because being, or more specific, becoming your truest self means sometimes losing friends or clients. Or being ridiculed. And yes, that can hurt. But pretending to be someone you’re not, costs more. Meryl Streep once said: “What makes you weird is your superpower.”
12: She meant ‘different’, not’ weird’.
For me it’s the same. And I hope you are weird too. Because it’s where innovation lies. And the moment you begin to see all the things that happened to you, everything that shaped your weirdness, as training rather than injustice, that’s when you can become your own hero. Accepting who you are: A weird grownup with a very alive inner child. That’s when the real story (with lots of fun) begins.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My husband and co-founder Koen Van Grimbergen. Love of my life and partner in crime.
Photo : Koen & Véronique
Koen is a third-generation architect, blessed with that rare je-ne-sais-quoi that defines true aesthetic intelligence. Integrity is not something he practices, it’s who he is. When I isolated myself for a year to deconstruct and rewrite the very foundations of our practice, searching for the ‘Architypes’ and redefining our identity, creating a framework in which we could finally be who we had always wanted to be (free from corporate conformity) while naming what was invisible yet deeply felt, he held the fort. Without complaint. He gave me the space to disappear into vision, even when it cost him personally. And for that I am forever grateful.
And my greatest fan?
A highly talented couture designer and one of my closest friends: Ivan Segers. I always knew that architecture has a profound impact on people. The same goes for clothing, which is why you rarely find me in black. I’ve always felt what color and form can do. Working with Ivan allowed me to explore that instinct more consciously. We experimented with different silhouettes and styles, and after each fitting we observed what changed: posture, voice, confidence, presence. I experienced how something simple as clothes can transform the way you carry yourself.
That’s how The Inner Critic was born, through observing how external form influences internal dialogue. And from there, we identified 8 more Architypes (not to confuse with Carl Jungs archEtypes), forces that can either work for you or against you. That insight deepened my understanding of architecture even further. What surrounds you, has a profound impact on you. If something as seemingly small as clothing can shift your identity, imagine what architecture can do.
Photo: Inner Critic (Architype 12) and Ivan.
Photo : Conformity breaking character (Architype 11) and Ivan.
Which people or companies would I like to work with?
At YUGENING, we design high-performance environments, from corporate headquarters and office buildings to hospitality projects, where architecture strengthens the people inside. Alongside our core practice, we are developing a more ambitious concept: the most advanced holistic healing centres the world has ever seen. For that level of integration, architecture alone is not enough.
We need a framework that brings together leading minds across disciplines, neuroscience, regenerative design, psychology, biomimicry, sensory science and organisational culture, working as one integrated system. Not another spa. Not a wellness retreat. But a scalable healing concept designed to influence behaviour, restore balance and strengthen human wellbeing at its core.
YUGENING will structure and design the architectural framework. But for this advanced layer, we need specialised expertise working simultaneously, not sequentially. Because the world needs environments that actively support healing. Urgently. Here are some of the minds who embody that direction. This list is only the beginning.
- Jeanne Gang. Architect who integrates ecology, community and human connection into large-scale spatial systems. (https://studiogang.com/contact)
- David Adjaye. Architect known for culturally grounded, context-sensitive architecture that merges material intelligence, identity and social meaning into powerful spatial experiences.
(newbusinesseurope@adjaye.com) - Olafur Eliasson. Artist working with light, perception and sensory experience — essential for consciousness-aware spaces. (mailto:info@studioolafureliasson.net)
- Ilse Crawford. Human-centred designer focused on emotional comfort, tactility and psychological wellbeing in interiors. (https://www.studioilse.com/contact)
- Jason McLennan. Leader in regenerative design, pushing buildings beyond sustainability toward net-positive impact. (https://living-future.org/about/contact)
- Janine Benyus. Founder of biomimicry — grounding healing environments in nature-inspired intelligence. (https://biomimicry.org/contact)
- Mel Robbins. Behavioural change expert focused on practical, scalable tools that help people move from intention to action; essential for translating spatial design into real behavioural transformation. Suggest a Guest – Mel Robbins 12: Hoping to get invited at Mel’s podcast? Dream on dreamer.
- Andrew Huberman. Neuroscientist specializing in how light, environment and behaviour influence the brain and stress regulation. (https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/andrew-huberman)
- Gabor Maté. Expert in trauma and human development — ensuring the center is psychologically safe and informed. (https://drgabormate.com/contact)
- Adam Grant. Organizational psychologist focused on motivation and culture — key for the internal ecosystem of the center. (https://adamgrant.net/contact)
What project am I looking forward to work on?
I want to build holistic healing environments around the world; places where architecture, ecology and human behaviour are designed as one integrated system. Spaces that restore, uplift, inspire, stimulate cross-pollination, and wake up the childlike wonderment. Because when you design behaviour intentionally, performance follows naturally. And when behaviour changes, collaboration deepens, and burnout decreases. Profit becomes a consequence, not the goal. Since March 2024, I’ve been following my intuition more consciously. It keeps pointing in the same direction: raise wellbeing and thus energy frequency. Help people step into their full potential. Not through theory, but through environment and community.
12: Don’t say ‘Frequency’!!! Too esoteric!
Call it resonance. It’s the energy you feel when you walk in. I began expressing that vision openly, on Instagram. Not through theory, but through experimentation. I made invisible behavioural forces visible through the ‘Architypes’ I developed, and I tested how context, from clothing to architecture, influences identity and performance. Yes, some people thought I had lost my mind. Visibility triggers opinions. But I had the time of my life, I believe that’s part of innovation.
The funny thing is I began attracting people who resonate with that vision. People I would never have attracted had I stayed conventional. Not only other architects, but regenerative urban planners, experts in agriculture, psychologists, biologists, lawyers who believe in integrity over aggression, mathematicians fascinated by geometry, specialists in healing environments and alternative energy, even a midwife, because yes, many things begin at birth. Different disciplines, but all in same direction. With people who are deeply passionate about their field. When the right minds start gathering around the same vision, you recognize a pattern: something wants to be built. And I’m ready to build it.
Where can you see me or my work?
We are currently active in Belgium, with projects that combine sustainability, proportion, and psychological awareness. But we’re ready for international expansion with aligned partners. On ordinary days, you’ll find me at our office in Kapellen, a small town north of Antwerp. Our office isn’t big. But our mindset is. That’s why we punch above our size. Our team consists of rare gems; passionate, slightly nerdy (I consider being a nerd the highest compliment because it means you’re curious and always ask the next question), and deeply empathetic. People who care about proportion, materials, real sustainability and about each other. When you see my work, you are seeing the work of the whole team. And at the core of it stands a partnership that has grown for more than two decades. Link to our website: www.YUGENING.com
Photo : The YUGENING dream team, aka The YUGENEERS.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
Everything. For me, passion equals purpose. The Japanese call it Ikigai: the reason you get out of bed in the morning, the reason you lose track of time when you’re working on something that truly matters. It’s the quiet force that keeps you searching. For better solutions, deeper meaning, new connections. Not creating for the sake of creating, but because somewhere inside the process there might be an answer the world doesn’t even know it needs yet. And curiosity is key.
As an architect, that’s what drives me. I don’t just want to design buildings. I want to design ecosystems where art meets science and where imagination meets execution. Where you can never be called ‘too curious’.
At its core, it has always been about health. Improving the wellbeing of people. Designing environments that actively support both people and planet. To go as far as possible in that mission, I need to gather the curious, creative “weirdos”, the ones willing to go the extra mile every single time to find the best possible solutions the world actually needs.
And today, that vision is expanding. From individual wellbeing to collective wellbeing. From people to planet. Because human health and planetary health are not separate conversations. I know I will keep working on this vision for decades to come. So, let’s see what can happen in the next 40 or 50 years. And all this time I’ll be the Captain of my journey, but my Inner Child (Architype 5) aka intuition will be the navigator, and she decides where we go.
5- Buckle up, darling.
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
As I mentioned before, when you start expressing a certain vision, one in which you aim to create solutions that uplift both people and the planet, such as building the most high- performing holistic healing centers in the world, aligned people recognize themselves in it. By now, the list of people who are willing to go the extra mile in their specific field is much longer than this.
So for now, I am sharing the names of heroines who also fully understand the concept of vibrational energy and do not consider it esoteric at all. Each of those women has walked through the ashes and risen like a phoenix.
Monica Gerdes Monika.Gerdes@union-investment.de
Yvette Plaisier yvette@regenbow.eu
Veerle Huygen veerle@shotsofginger.com
Sofie Houtmeyers star_whale999@yahoo.com
Candice Eberle candice@simplelivingcompany.co
Sandrine Versavel sandrineversavel@hotmail.com
This is what high resonance looks like: see pictures. Women who are are exceptionally skilled. Deeply professional. Yet humble. With a spark in their eyes. And lots of genuine warmth. That combination creates an atmosphere where excellence and empathy coexist. That is the kind of environment I aim to design, both physically and culturally. And that requires people who embody those qualities.
Photo (left to right): Veerle, Véronique, Yvette and Sandrine. Dressed by Ivan.
Photo (left to right): Candice, Sofie.
How can you contact me?
Through my assistant Patrycja.
She loves getting in contact with new people. She’s an assistant- architect and she handles everything for me. For the record: she always wanted to be a Barbie, and therefore she by herself is worth a story. When Mattel released ‘Barbie Architect’, she was dressed (partly) in pink. And interestingly, parts of the architectural community weren’t entirely comfortable with that. Because ‘the pink colour didn’t match the serious, black-clad image traditionally associated with the profession’. And that says more about the profession than about Barbie. But our Patrycja wears pink unapologetically. Très YUGENING.
Photo: Inner Critic and Assistant-architect Patrycja, dressed in pink by Ivan.
So if you want to get in contact with me, send an email to my assistant: pg@yugening.com
12: You’re not a princess!
And sometimes, my inner Critic is absolutely right. My personal email is vo@yugening.com.
The Heroine’s Journey : it starts and ends with YU.
Dear reader,
Before we close, may I leave you with one thought? You spend most of your life indoors; nearly 90% of it in the Western world. And that has an extraordinary impact on you. Your environment determines whether you still have energy at the end of the day, to cook a healthy meal, or to play with your children (who grow up so fast), to go for a run, or simply to feel alive.
The spaces you inhabit shape your nervous system, your focus, your mood, your relationships. They influence whether you feel drained or strengthened.
My Inner Critic is perfectly content with white walls, corporate blueness and playing it safe. She wears black to feel sophisticated, to appear serious and to create a certain distance. It looks controlled, professional. Untouchable even.
But the strongest version of me is not interested in distance.
She wants to be uplifted, and she wants the same for you. She wants pure air. Daylight without glare. Wood that lowers cortisol levels. Silence where it’s needed and vibrant cross-pollination where it belongs. Radiant warmth and cooling. View and vistas. Lighting that follows the circadian rhythm. The list goes on and on. She expects an environment that actively strengthens the people inside them.
Because she knows we are worth it.
12: Is this a shampoo advertisement?
Not just shampoo. But your whole environment. If you are ready to inhabit spaces that support you in becoming the strongest version of yourself too, reach out. Because my dear, it always started with YU.
Warm regards,
Véronique Orens
#yugening
#itstartswithyu
Credits :
Photography by Marc Drofmans
Make-up by Monique Van Mooter
Couture by Ivan Segers
The Heroine’s Journey by Peter De Kuster aka Peter Pan (Thank YU Peter)