Panel session
On 19 November, the VAi is organising a talk at De Singel as part of HouseEurope!, a European campaign that advocates renovation as the norm. Instead of demolition, reuse, adaptation and restoration are central to the core strategies for a more sustainable and equitable built environment.
Every minute, a building disappears in Europe. Not because of a natural disaster, but because of human activity. Some people profit from this, but you pay the price: with rising rents and rising temperatures. HouseEurope! wants to put a stop to this destruction and make renovation the new norm. Because demolishing existing buildings is as outdated as food waste, animal testing, fast fashion and disposable plastic.
The evening starts with the documentary Power to Renovation, followed by a panel discussion in which Dennis Pohl (director of VAi) brings together diverse voices from policy, design, activism and development. The aim is not to reach a consensus, but to highlight tensions and common ground and to see renovation as a collective effort.
Speakers:
Moderator: Dennis Pohl (director VAi)
Afterwards, there will be an open discussion with the audience and informal drinks.
The HouseEurope! network has more than 200 members in all 27 EU countries: associations, architectural firms, cultural institutions, chambers, universities and more. Together, they are building a platform that combines public education and awareness with legal and policy advocacy. The aim is to help change the system behind construction and the built environment.
As a National Organising Member, the Flanders Architecture Institute actively contributes to raising awareness, spreading the message and campaigning to help HouseEurope! and HouseEurope! Belgium achieve their ambitious goal: collecting one million signatures.
19.11.2025
20:00h: welcome
20:10h - 20:30h: documentary Power to Renovation
20:30h - 21:30h: talk and Q&A
21:30h: drinks
DE SINGEL
Desguinlei 25
2018, Antwerpen
The Flanders Architecture Institute and ICA-WB, The Cultural Institute of Architecture Wallonia-Brussels, are simultaneously organising a House Europe debate. On 19 November, the panel discussion HouseEurope! Agency of the Architect will take place in Liège.
