Matter in Practice NEB Festival 2026

We are pleased to present an event in collaboration with the New European Bauhaus, an initiative of the European Commission that aims to rethink how we design and inhabit our built environment by combining sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion.

Each year, the NEB Festival activates a network of events across Europe, and this year Materiatek has the pleasure of hosting one of these gatherings in Brussels.

We invite you to immerse yourself in a dynamic experience designed for professionals and enthusiasts of design and construction: architects, interior architects, designers, students, and curious minds eager to explore the future of materials.

The workshops will be led by the following studios, choose the workshop that interests you most and come along!

BlackWool:

BlackWool, founded in 2019 by Pauline Dornat, is a research studio dedicated to promoting sheep’s wool on a local, artisanal scale.

The wool is sourced from micro-herds in Belgium and France and processed in a micro-spinning mill. Each piece is then worked on in the workshop, spun, woven or felted, and dyed, taking into account the different qualities of the fibres.

The pieces created in the workshop are designed for the interior design and small furniture sectors.

Trained in Haute Couture, Pauline places great importance on reviving traditional craftsmanship, to this end, every piece is handmade and is a unique item.

Fibre to Felt Workshop:
We will begin with a brief introduction to wool, its origins, the ways it can be processed, and the products currently used in the construction and architecture sectors.

This natural material, with its many qualities, has the advantage of being easily felted in two different ways : wet (soap and water) or needle-punched. Together, we will explore the various possibilities and create a set of samples combining different media to investigate the potential.

Felt, which belongs to the non-woven family, can be worked flat or in three dimensions from the moment it is created. The two techniques, wet and needle-punched can be used separately or in combination on the same samples.

Sonian:

Sonian is a Brussels-based cooperative working exclusively with wood from the Sonian Forest, a 5,000-hectare peri-urban ecosystem and UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 2019, Sonian aims to relocalise the transformation of this exceptional forest resource by working closely with forest managers, sawmills and craftspeople, ensuring a fully local and sustainable value chain.

While a significant part of this wood is currently exported, Sonian develops an alternative model that reintegrates production locally for architecture, construction and design. The cooperative promotes the ecological, cultural and material value of the Sonian Forest, with a strong focus on biodiversity, selective forestry and responsible use of resources.

Forest to Form Workshop:
The session combines an introduction to the challenges and opportunities of local wood valorisation with a hands-on experience working directly with beech wood from the Sonian Forest.

Participants will be guided through the making of a simple object (such as a solid beech cutting board), allowing them to discover the material’s qualities through direct fabrication. This format, already tested in previous public workshops, offers both a pedagogical and sensory approach to local wood and its potential in contemporary design.

Grond Studio:

Grond Studio is the practice of designer Pieter Van Bruyssel, based in Belgium. Working with earth and natural materials, the studio explores vernacular architecture as a living knowledge shaped by place, climate, and community. Founded in 2019, Grond Studio develops context-driven approaches where each project begins by questioning need, durability, and long-term care. Here, durability is understood as both technical and cultural, linking material intelligence with social responsibility.

The practice connects architecture, design, photography, and building through a minimal and respectful approach rooted in craft and local knowledge. Construction becomes a dialogue between material, context, and use.

Clay & Earth Workshop:
A hands-on and reflective session exploring earth-based construction through both making and discussion.
The first part focuses on the role of the base layer in clay and earth building, exploring how it conditions durability and performance through material samples and examples.

The second part opens a discussion around “The Responsibility of the Underpaid Architect”, an unpublished manifesto developed within the practice, reflecting on value, responsibility, and the position of designers in contemporary building processes.

Materiatek:

Materiatek is a Brussels-based independent non-profit ecosystem dedicated to sustainable spatial design, structured around three pillars: Materials, Cowork, and Events. It provides a platform to improve material specification, a shared studio space for collaboration, and a year-round programme of talks and workshops.

As a fully independent vzw/asbl, Materiatek reinvests all income into its mission, ensuring neutrality, trust, and strong ties with both the professional and academic worlds. Its goal is to support spatial practitioners with the tools, knowledge, and experiences they need to grow, guided by values of curiosity, diversity, experimentation, and continuous learning.

From Fragment to Mosaic Workshop:
This hands-on workshop explores ceramic upcycling by transforming broken tiles and fragments into a unique mosaic piece. Participants experiment with composition, texture, and colour while learning simple assembly techniques.

Each participant leaves with a finished mosaic object. No prior experience is needed, and all materials are provided.

Throughout the day, you will be able to enjoy:

A guided tour of Materiatek
Inspiring talks and conferences
Hands-on workshops to experiment with materials
A wrap-up session to share ideas
And to finish, a networking moment with drinks and snacks

Book your Tickets