Major global upheavals are leading to increasing numbers of conflicts in our daily lives. The growth of the population of Flanders, the gap between the rich and poor, the ageing population and the care provisions needed, the search for alternative sources of energy, the increasing threat of flooding, rising food prices and the financial crisis are all putting pressure on our model of society and the limited amount of territory we live in. The only thing that can lead to a sustainable and integrated scenario for the future is a modified vision of urbanised space.
So the future of Flanders is a design problem. AWJGGRAUa-DVVTAT - a combination of the Architecture Workroom think-tank, the graphic designer Joost Grootens, the GRAU urban design office, architects de vylder vinck taillieu and the artist Ante Timmermans - are taking up this challenge. This collective gives design a major role in its response to the demographic, economic and ecological issues. The team puts forward a scenario for the future founded on high-quality interaction between the various claims on space. Flanders here becomes part of a metropolitan network of complementary, cross-border and self-supporting regions.
The results of the speculative design studies are first being shown at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice. The installation at deSingel brings the debate to Flanders. Experts from home and abroad, societal actors, policy-makers and citizens will gather together in this workshop, which will give shape to a project for tomorrow's Flanders.
The exhibition wil be inaugurated with a lecture at deSingel (Blauwe Zaal) on Thursday 4 October 2012 at 20:00.
Admission is free.
Opening times are from Wednesday to Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00 (on evenings with concerts at deSingel, the exhibition is also open from 19:00 to 23:00.
Closed on Monday, Tuesday and on holidays.
With: AWJGGRAUaDVVTAT (Architecture Workroom Brussels, Joost Grootens, GRAU, architecten De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Ante Timmermans)
Production: Vlaams Architectuurinstituut, deSingel Internationale Kunstcampus and team Vlaams Bouwmeester commissioned by Vlaams Minister van Leefmilieu, Natuur en Cultuur Joke Schauvliege.
Project sponsoring: Goedhart Repro, V.L. Projects bvba, Gyproc