Educated at the Howest School of Applied Architecture and the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture, with forays to the University of Liechtenstein and the University of Cincinnati, Axel Clissen has spent time during his studies at the offices of Architects in Motion and Wim Goes Architectuur.
Rather than launch himself off into exotic and elaborate forms, Axels work focuses closely on more practical complexities, such as public spaces and human interaction. Determined to discover the atmosphere of each place, he landed himself a job at Bernard Tschumi Architects. Intrigued by the relationship between architecture and nature, Axel strongly believes that 'architecture should represent the culture of its time, seen through the eyes of the architect'.
After graduating cum laude in 2009, he was picked up by Robbrecht and Daem Architects, where he worked on the re-development of the city center of Ghent and on the masterplan 'Nieuw Zuid' in Antwerp, while completing his training under the mentorship of Paul Robbrecht. Next to his work in practice, he accepted a guest professor's position at the Howest School of Applied Architecture, teaching design studio.
In 2011, Axel was chosen by an international jury, including Flemish Government Architect Peter Swinnen and Brussels City Architect Olivier Bastin, as the laureate for the Godecharle Prize for Architecture, a prestigious Belgian award for up-and-coming architects.
Besides his professional and academic work, he was asked by Dr. Ir. Christoph Grafe to produce the Belgian entry for the 13th International Architecture Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia in 2012. Since then he combines his work as an architect with a position as a project leader at the Flemish Architecture Institute.