Hugo Prades Claessens (Luxembourg, 1973) graduated in architecture from Brussels in 1997. Early in his career, he collaborated with renowned architects such as J.L. Piñón in Valencia, Enric Miralles (EMBT) in Barcelona, Salvador Pérez Arroyo in Madrid, Pierre Vanden Broeck in Brussels, and J.M. Torres Nadal in Murcia. In 2000, he founded his own architectural office in Brussels, where he led projects for nearly five years.
In 2005, Hugo joined Idom/ACXT as a Project Director, overseeing key projects like the Renewable Energy Centre in Murcia, the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Bank of Spain in Castellón, the New Headquarters of the Local Police in Elche, the New San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, and various assignments for the European Parliament in Brussels. His portfolio also includes multiple housing and public building projects in Paris.
In 2012, Hugo co-founded ONYON arquitectura + interiorismo with Ion Zubiaurre Ros. Initially focusing on architectural competitions, the firm achieved various awards and mentions. By 2015, ONYON shifted its focus to small and medium-scale projects, emphasizing meticulous design and construction quality.
In 2024, Hugo co-founded Sharp Architectures, integrating architectural and engineering expertise with a specialization in sustainable wooden constructions. The firm’s projects are recognized for their minimal environmental impact and sound financial viability through innovative design.
Hugo is also an educator, having taught courses and workshops in Wood construction, Prefabrication and Sustainability at CEU Cardenal Herrera School of Architecture in Valencia for three years. His extensive international experience spans collaborations across Belgium, France, England, Italy, Russia, Argentina, and Brazil. He is fluent in Spanish, French, English, and Italian.
Laurent Warlop studied Civil Engineering in KULeuven and graduated in 1990 and has a master in Environmental Management (ULB 1994). Laurent is also « responsable PEB/EPB adviseur » for the Brussels region.
Laurent is passionate about architecture, sustainability, building physics and wooden constructions. Among other constructions he designed the largest private wooden house in Belgium.
In the early stages of his career, Laurent gained valuable experience in leading businesses, which provided him with a solid foundation in strategic management and innovation. This experience was instrumental in shaping his approach to developing and managing sustainable enterprises. He is still on the board of different companies.
In 2020, Laurent founded Wingcat srl, a pioneering company that develops electric vehicles aimed at significantly reducing CO2 emissions and electricity consumption. This innovation highlights his commitment to revolutionizing suburban mobility with environmentally friendly technology.
By 2023, Laurent co-founded 2BeGreener.com, a platform designed reduce the environmental impact of a real estate portfolio. His role in this initiative underscores his dedication to driving ecological awareness and fostering green innovations.
In 2024, he co-founded Sharp Architectures, an enterprise which combines the competences of architect and engineer with a focus on wooden constructions. The firm’s projects are characterized by the very low environmental impact while making perfect financial sense through sharp designs and decisions.