Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren

Further information: www.willem-jan-beeren.de

Since 2025 // Dean of the Department of Architecture

Since 2025 // Member of the Society for Artistic Design Theory

Since 2020 // Member of the Bonn Art Association

2017-2025 // Reviewer, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

2015-2017 // Deputy Chair of the Society for Art and Design Bonn

2014-2017 // Chair of the Senate of Alanus University

2014-2018 // Member of the Executive Board of the Conference of Deans and Heads of Departments for Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Landscape Architecture in the Federal Republic of Germany (DARL)

2014 // Appointed to the Society for Art and Design Bonn

2012 // Appointed Professor at Alanus University in the Department of Architecture for the chair “Architecture and Art in Dialogue”

2012-2019 // Vice Dean, Department of Architecture

2009-2012  // Department Manager in the Department of Architecture

2006-2011 // artur gesamtplaner aachen: freelance in office partnership with Prof. Nikolaus v. Kaisenberg, interior architecture, architecture, urban planning, project development

2003-2011 // Research associate in the Department of Architecture at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Alfter

since 2006 // Member of the Chamber of Architects NRW (A 37505): various advanced and continuing education courses at the AKNW Academy in cost planning, urban land-use planning, and senior-friendly design

2003 // State-recognized degree in architecture (Dipl.-Ing.)

1997-2003 // Study of architecture, Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Alfter

2002-2006 // kaisenberg.architektur Aachen – Prof. Nikolaus v. Kaisenberg: design, approval and execution planning, feasibility studies, project development in residential, settlement, school, and community construction

2001 // bpr – beraten, planen, realisieren – Dipl.-Ing. Gregor Hafner, Stuttgart: design, execution planning, construction supervision, among others in school, hospital, and trade fair construction

1997 // Office for design concepts – Prof. Wulf Schneider, Stuttgart: furniture design, among others for cor, 3punkt, Vitra, König + Neurath

1996 // Study of wood technology, Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences

1995-1996 // Career orientation year, Hamburg: philosophy, art, and cultural studies

Perception of architecture, artistic foundations of architecture, artistic interventions in public space, art in architecture / art and building

07.-13.08.2023 // Maintenance 1:1 at the German Pavilion at the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale. With ARCH+, Büro Juliane Greb, summacumfemmer, students of Alanus University and Università Iuav di Venezia

Since 2012 // Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space. With, among others, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Florian Kluge, Dr.Ing. Ulrich Berding (formerly RWTH Aachen, now planzwei Architektur, Hanover, and Stadt als Campus e.V.), Paul Jonas Petry, Ludger Molitor (beispielhaft.com).

2023 // digwhereyoustand. Temporary interventions on the topic of “interspecies” at the Villestrasse campus. Cooperation with Prof. Kathrin Böhm, Chair of Art in the Corporate Context, Department of Economics, Alanus University

2022 // KASch reloaded. A teaching project in the Master’s in Architecture in cooperation with the city of Bad Honnef (lead: Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge)

2022 // alanusHOCKER. Design and construction of seating furniture for the Raumlabor. Seminar in the Master’s in Architecture

2021 // New Trees for Mayschoß. An artistic intervention in flood-affected Mayschoß, Ahr Valley

2019 // City Leaks Academy. Student workshop as part of the CityLeaks Urban Art Festival from 09 to 15 September 2019 in Cologne-Ehrenfeld. With Miriam Hamel, students of Alanus University and TH Köln,  Orizzontale Studio (Milan, IT)

2019 // Waldlabor Köln. Land art workshop at the invitation of the Chair of Landscape Architecture at RWTH Aachen, Prof. Dr. Frank Lohrberg. With students from the Department of Architecture at Alanus University, RWTH Aachen, Nürtingen University, TU Munich, and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-La Villette.

2018 // Bonn on the Rhine. Exhibition of student design projects on Bonn am Strom in the pavilion of Forum Stadt Bau Kultur Bonn

2018 // Himmel un Ähd. Integrated urban development: New center of Alfter. Design seminar, temporary intervention, and civic workshop. With students from the Department of Architecture, Prof. Benedikt Stahl, Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge, Dr. Wolfgang Wackerl, Miriam Hamel, the municipality of Alfter (municipal council, planning office, mayor’s office), local stakeholders, and business owners.

2018 // infinite miscanthus. Möbius strip made of Chinese silver grass. Artistic intervention as part of Bonn Science Night 2018. With students from the Department of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Ing. Mathias Wirths, Jano Knopp, Miriam Hamel

2017 // GrenzWertig : Artistic redesign of Hürth Hermülheim station. Temporary installation. With students from the Department of Architecture, the Museum of Architecture and Engineering Art NRW (M:AI), Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge, Prof. Paul Jonas Petry, Miriam Hamel, Alanus University

2017 // InterPRO, Exhibition with student projects on the topic “Artistic intervention / participation in public space” at the Siegburg City Museum. Cooperation of the departments of Fine Arts, Architecture, Art Therapy, and Educational Science.

2017 // Waldlabor Köln. Artistic intervention on site, workshop with several universities at the invitation of the Chair of Landscape Architecture at RWTH Aachen, Prof. Dr. Frank Lohrberg. With students from the Department of Architecture.

2016 // HALL04. A do-it-together theater installation that allows visitors to encounter one another under special conditions inside an expansive wooden sculpture. Walk-in spatial sculpture at the German Architecture Center Berlin. With students from the Department of Architecture, Gert-Jan Stam, Breg Horemans (taat – theatre as architecture, architecture as theatre Berlin, Ghent).

2016 // light.bulb. Artistic intervention as part of Bonn Science Night 2016. With students from the Department of Architecture.

2016ff // GrenzWertig. Communication in Architecture. Inter-university research and development project. With the Museum of Architecture and Engineering Art NRW (M:AI), Prof. Dr. Daniel Lohmann, TH Köln, VProf. Susanne Kothe, TH Köln, Prof. Andreas Denk, TH Köln, Prof. Norbert Hanenberg, TH Mittelhessen, Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge, Miriam Hamel, Alanus University

2015 // Waldlabor Köln. Artistic intervention on site, workshop with several universities at the invitation of the Chair of Landscape Architecture at RWTH Aachen, Prof. Dr. Frank Lohrberg. With students from the Department of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge, and Prof. Paul Jonas Petry.

2015 // Places of remembrance. Exhibition in the former children’s home Cologne-Sülz. With Ulrika Eller-Rüter, Andreas Oldörp, Harald Weiß, students of fine art and architecture at Alanus University and HBK Saar

2014 // klang im macke-viertel. Workshop and exhibition at fabrik45, Bonn. With students of the Bachelor’s degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter and Sam Auinger.

2014 // NetzWerk, Temporary installation at the Kamm building at Zollverein colliery, Essen. With Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge and students of Alanus University

2013 // sonotopia 2013. soundscapes in bonn.  Installative group work in the former church “Kreuzung an Sankt Helena”  Bonn. With students of the Bachelor’s degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter, Prof. Christina Kubisch, Jan Verbeek (video), and Eckehard Güther (sound engineering)

2012 // LATTE, Budenzauber at Brüsseler Platz. Temporary intervention at Brüsseler Platz in Cologne. With students of the Bachelor’s degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter, Prof. Benedikt Stahl.

2012 // sonotopia 2012, Sound interventions in Bonn city center. With students of the Bachelor’s degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter, Prof. Andreas Oldörp (Saarbrücken Academy of Fine Arts) and the Beethoven Foundation Bonn. A project by bonn hoeren.

2010 // Platzgeschichten, urban intervention at Brüsseler Platz Cologne as part of plan10 – Forum of Contemporary Architecture. With students of the Bachelor’s degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter

2008 // 365 ideas for the city – idea collage for Brüsseler Platz Cologne campaign as part of plan08 – Forum of Contemporary Architecture. With students of the Diplom degree program in Architecture at Alanus University Alfter

Hearing Space. Approaches to the spatial beyond visual representations. In: STIL. Goetheanism in Art and Science: Metamorphoses of the Creative, Issue 2, 46th year, pp. 76-82, Dornach, 2024 (available here).

Museum of 1,000 Places. Art in Architecture Commissioned by the Federal Government since 1950 (Project 262 Klinken)

262 Klinken. The art-in-architecture project in the new Rosa Luxemburg Foundation building in Berlin (catalog). Willem-Jan Beeren, Paul Jonas Petry, 2023

“Artistic interventions by Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Alfter”, article in the special supplement of General-Anzeiger for the 50th anniversary of Alanus University, 2023

EP/CD “The Magic of the Voice. A Storm Trilogy”. Bonner Jazzchor, 2023

“…That architecture is something indivisible – human beings and architecture in perception.”, Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren, in: Mensch + Architektur, 105/106 / 2020, pp. 22-29. Published by Fördergesellschaft Internationales Forum Mensch + Architektur e.V. Dresden

Space Time Resonance, Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren. Erftstadt 2020

“The appropriation of space through art. How temporary artistic interventions can transform architecture and urban space.”, Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren, in: Mensch + Architektur, 100 / 2019, pp. 122-127. Published by Fördergesellschaft Internationales Forum Mensch + Architektur e.V. Dresden

“We call it process architecture. Participation in teaching and research in the Department of Architecture at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.”, Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren, Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge, in: Mensch + Architektur, 91-92/2017, pp. 44-47. Published by Fördergesellschaft Internationales Forum Mensch + Architektur e.V. Dresden

“Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space”, Volume 4. Willem-Jan Beeren, Ulrich Berding, Florian Kluge. Erftstadt, Aachen, Hanover 2016. ISBN: 978-3000552533

“Places of remembrance. Exhibition in the former children’s home Cologne-Sülz”, exhibition catalog for the student project at and in the former children’s home Cologne-Sülz. 2016. ISBN 978-3-943618-48-8

“Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space”, Volume 3. Willem-Jan Beeren, Ulrich Berding, Florian Kluge. Erftstadt, Aachen, Hanover 2015. ISBN: 978-3000517983

“Architecture and Nature”, Willem-Jan Beeren, Bettina Gebhardt, in: “Architecture All Day: Spaces for Architectural Education”, Christina Budde (editor), Barbara Shatry (editor), Inez Wagner (editor), Arne Winkelmann (editor), kopaed (December 2014), ISBN: 978-3867362344

“Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space”, Volume 2. Willem-Jan Beeren, Ulrich Berding, Florian Kluge. Euskirchen, Aachen 2014. ISBN: 978-3000459818“Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space”, Volume 1. Willem-Jan Beeren, Ulrich Berding, Florian Kluge. Euskirchen, Aachen 2013. ISBN: 978-3000433276

Academy Series, Deutscher Werkbund North Rhine-Westphalia, individual issue 14: “Mimesis. The principle of imitation” (14/2013). “Learning from Nature? Observations on organic building”

Baumeister: “Lattenwald”, installation on the Alanus University campus in Alfter (B2/2010)

das Münster, journal for Christian art and art scholarship: “Urn burials in churches – the new connection between the living and the dead?”. Columbarium Leverkusen-Rheindorf (4/2010)

Building with Wood: “A forest grows over the wall”, Lattenwald by beispielhaft.com (4/2010)

Chrismon plus Rheinland: “Final rest in the bell tower”, columbarium Leverkusen-Rheindorf (11/2008)

Free Lounge, trade magazine for municipal open spaces: “Discovered! Artful meshwork”, PLAN Project 10 in Cologne with Alanus University, Department of Architecture (4/2010)

08.-10.03.24 // Space Perception Consciousness. Weekend seminar on space perception, including an input on the topic “Space as a hearing Experience”. Joint event with IFMA and VIsual Art Section / Goetheanum. 

26.10.23 // Lecture: “Advancing the project through art” / Conference “44 x Practical” at Rohrmeisterei Schwerte (cancelled)

05.-06.04.2023 // Workshop on space, Bachelor’s in Production Design, International Film School Cologne (ifs)

23.11.2022 // Workshop “wandLABOR” , Cluster Science Days at the Cluster of Excellence “immunosensation2” at the University of Bonn / University Hospital Bonn

15.11.2022 // Workshop “THE GOLDEN CONVERSATION STARTER – temporary interventions in public space” / Conference “43x Practical” at Rohrmeisterei Schwerte

05.09.2022 // Workshop Alumni Academy “Special aspects and relevance of in-person teaching”, University of Siegen

09.12.2020 // “Designing worlds” reading from the book of the same name by Friedrich v. Borries as part of the lecture series “1 Department 10 Books” in the Department of Architecture at Alanus University

28.09.2019 // “Appropriations of space through art”. Workshop as part of the international conference “Holistic Living Environment Design” at the Bauhaus Dessau

24.08.2019 // “Building Europe”. Workshop as part of the international conference “The Soul of Europe” at Résidence Palace, Brussels (B), together with Prof. Pieter v.d. Ree.

04.04.2019 // “How does process architecture work?” Artistic opening of the building culture symposium BÜRGER MACHEN BAUKULTUR with LWL-Denkmalpflege, Landschafts- und Baukultur in Westfalen, Rohrmeisterei Schwerte

01.03.2019 // “Motif and design in architecture and biography”
Symposium of the International Forum Mensch und Architektur in cooperation with TU Dresden and the Department of Architecture at Alanus University

27.02.2019 // “More than walls. Third places as spaces with quality of stay and the role of temporary interventions”. Artistic intervention and workshop with Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge. Conference on the funding program “Third Places” of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW, Rohrmeisterei Schwerte

21.-22.06.2018 // “Time Life Out”. Artistic workshop with employees of GenRe Reinsurance, Cologne at Kasteel Vaalsbroeck, NL with Paul Jonas Petry, Sonja Simone Albert, and Anne von Hoyningen-Huene.

01.06.2018 // “…for there is no place that does not see you…” Interdisciplinary symposium. Organization, moderation, and own contribution, in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Gabriele Oberreuter, Alanus University, Studium Generale

03.11.2016 // Convention on Building Culture 2016, base camp: “Building culture in the field of tension of social challenges”. Forum 6: Building culture in the educational landscape – Studying as a construction site. Moderation of the event, together with Prof. Bernd Rudolf, Bauhaus University Weimar

07.04.2016 // “Raum auf Zeit. Temporary interventions in public space” – Lecture as part of the module “Synthesis of Open Space and City”, Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Rohler, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences, Höxter campus

13.11.2015 // “Raum auf Zeit. Temporary processes of appropriation” – Lecture as part of the symposium “anders TUN. ANDERS tun”. Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

03.12.2014 // “The ideal university” – Lecture as part of the lecture series “Redesigning higher education”, with Prof. Benedikt Stahl. Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

16.05.2014 // “Raum auf Zeit – Temporary interventions in public space” – Lecture as part of the lecture series “Open Forum – social participation through art”, with Prof. Dr. Florian Kluge. Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

19.02.2014 // “Ethics training and experiential spaces” – Lecture and design seminar “Ethics training spaces at the State Office for Education and Training of the Police NRW” (LAFP Brühl).

21.11.2013 // Working group with lecture on “Architecture and Nature” as part of the international conference on architectural education “Architecture all day – spaces for cultural education” at the German Architecture Museum Frankfurt/Main.

11.11.2013 // “RaumAufZeit – Temporary interventions in public space” – Lecture as part of the seminar “FlexCity”, Leibniz University Hanover, Institute of Design and Urban Development.

15.03.2013 // “Sound space – Space sound” – Lecture together with Robin Engelen on Luigi Nono’s “Prometeo” as part of the symposium “innenistaussenistinnen”. Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

09.06.2012 // “Learning from Nature – Observations on organic building” – Lecture as part of the Werkbund Academy 2012 on the topic “Mimesis”. Gnadental Castle, Kleve

23.10.2010 // “Human Being – Architecture – Society” – Lecture and working group at the conference “Questions and Perspectives of Education and Continuing Education in Organic Design”. Section for Fine Arts, School of Spiritual Science, Dornach (CH)

16.05.2010 // “gelINgen” – Performative lecture as part of the symposium “The Art of Success”. Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, with P. Petry

21.10.2008 // “Peter Zumthor Atmospheres” – Lecture as part of the project “Art and Church”. Department of Fine Arts/Chair of Painting at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences

08.06.2008 // “Built skin – trends in contemporary architecture” – Lecture as part of the symposium: “Art-Body – Constitution of the Body in Fine Art and Human Technologies”, Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences

14.10.2007 // “Contemporary architecture and the geometry of counter-space” –Lecture as part of the “mathematical study days”. Mathematical-Astronomical Section, School of Spiritual Science, Dornach (CH)

30.02.2006 // “studying architecture” – Lecture as part of the exhibition “Organic Architecture” at the Musée d‘Art Moderne et d‘Art Contemporain (mamac), Liége (B)

2021ff. // art@immunosensation. Multi-year art-in-architecture project at the Biomedical Center II of Bonn University Hospital. Cooperation between the Cluster of Excellence “immunonsensation2” at the University of Bonn and Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Departments of Fine Arts and Architecture. Project leaders: Prof. Paul Petry and Prof. Willem-Jan Beeren, duration: 03.2021 – 12.2023

2019 // “LernRAUM-Reallabor Netzwelten”. A research and development project within the ERASMUS+ research project “PULS+” for the development of expanded movement and functional spaces in the school context (lead: M.A. Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Hammon, with Dr. Petra Moog, Thomas Ferwagner, Halfen company, state capital Düsseldorf, among others)

2019 // “Gemeingold Boden”. A curated spatial intervention as part of the conference “Common Good Soil” at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences Alfter (with Miriam Hamel and Gabriel Cruz)

2019 // “zusammengeschweißt”. Steel sculpture for the Telekom Dome, Bonn, with Paul Jonas Petry (design, not realized)

2018 // “Die Innere Ordnung”. International, two-phase art-in-architecture competition for the extension building of the Federal Ministry of the Interior Berlin, with Paul Jonas Petry, 1st selection round (not realized)

2018 // “Excavator Hum-Gold”. international, two-phase art-in-architecture competition for the Humboldt Forum Berlin, with Paul Jonas Petry, 2nd selection round (not realized)

2018 // “Eltings DNA“, international two-phase competition for art in public space in the Elting district of Essen, Vonovia open art sculpture experience, with Paul Jonas Petry, 2nd selection round (not realized)

2017ff // “262 Klinken”, 1st prize in the nationwide open two-phase art competition for the new Rosa Luxemburg Foundation building in Berlin (with Paul Jonas Petry)

2017 // “Tiefe Schwere – Hohe Leichte”, spatial installation at the congress “Social Future”, RuhrCongress Bochum (with Miriam Hamel, Kevin Osenau, and students of Alanus University)

2015 // “STRUKTURwandel”. Spatial sculpture for the exhibition “Green City”, Ludwig Gallery Oberhausen Palace (with Florian Kluge and Max Wester)

2015 // “Studies on Nancarrow”. Curating the exhibition on Conlon Nancarrow, Society for Art and Design Bonn, with Michael Denhoff

2014 // “international gold“, performance/installation with Paul Jonas Petry and Ludger Krause-Sparmann, www.beispielhaft.com, Johannishof Alfter

2013 // “cordem publico”, sound installation at Klufterplatz in Bonn-Friesdorf. Invited contribution to the sound art project “PassionenStationen” of the Protestant and Catholic churches in Bonn

2012 // “pilzwald”, art in public space, invited contribution at the 2nd Sculpture Symposium in Bad Laasphe (with Ludger Krause-Sparmann)

2011 // “campustaxi”, performance/installation with Simone Albert, Paul Jonas Petry, and Ludger Krause-Sparmann, www.beispielhaft.com, Johannishof Alfter

2009 // “lattenwald”, art in architecture, 1st prize European competition “Make it your project”, Hornbach AG (with Paul Jonas Petry and Ludger Krause-Sparmann)

2008 // “dunkelziffer”, performance/installation with Ludger Krause-Sparmann, Bonn Science Night

2008 // “stuhltischstuhl”, performance/installation with Paul Jonas Petry and Ludger Krause-Sparmann, www.beispielhaft.com, Johannishof Alfter

2007 // “metamorphose”, performance/installation with Paul Jonas Petry and Ludger Krause-Sparmann, www.beispielhaft.com, Johannishof Alfter

Institute for Process Architecture (IPA), Chamber of Architects NRW (AKNW), Society for Art and Design Bonn (gkg), International Forum Human and Architecture (IFMA), Bonn Art Association (BKV)