Francine Houben is the founder and creative director of Mecanoo architecten. Her work ranges from theatres, universities, office buildings and libraries to neighbourhoods, housing, masterplans and parks. Each design is founded on observation of people, location, culture and climate. The analysis amounts to designs that respond to current needs, yet which are also prepared for (un)predictable change. Francine Houben has held professorships in the Netherlands and abroad, including visiting professor at Yale University in 2017. She is a lifelong member to the Akademie der Künste in Berlin and was named Woman Architect of the Year 2014 by the Architects’ Journal. In 2015, she received the prestigious Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize for her entire oeuvre and the BNA Kubus Award in 2018.