In recent years, nature conservation organisations have regularly commissioned young architects to design an office, a shed or a viewing tower. These included two observation huts: the observation tower at the Fondatie van Boudelo in the Waasland region, designed by the architectural firm Baeten Hylebos, and Willy’s Hut in the Blokkersdijk nature reserve on Antwerp’s Left Bank, designed by Sigert Defrancq, Didier Deroeck, Juri Jansen, Gilles Vanneste and Stef Verhees.

Silence is a scarce commodity. Articles regularly appeared in the press this summer about just how noisy it can be in our country, with Flanders in particular generating the necessary decibels. Consequently, people are increasingly seeking to retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life. This is evident from the rising membership numbers of nature conservation organisations, the popularity of nature reserves and the fact that nature conservation organisations are becoming more professional players in civil society.