Challenges for a Vivid Architectural Culture: The Case of Flanders

Challenges for a Vivid Architectural Culture: The Case of Flanders
In Flanders and Brussels, architecture operates in a multi-layered spatial context that is difficult to fathom. Furthermore, the present architectural culture is indebted to a generation of designers who, as from the 1980s, experimented with a radical reflection on the commonplace. At the same time, there is a close link between architecture and other artistic disciplines. A great awareness of history runs through the field of architecture and substantial attention is paid to the business of making. The combined deployment of all these elements is not always evident abroad and is thus often experienced as surrealistic.

During a two hour talk Sofie De Caigny (director Flanders Architecture Institute), Bart Tritsmans (head of exhibitions Flanders Architecture Institute), Aslı Cicek (architect KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture) and Florian Idenburg (co-founder of the award-winning architectural design firm SO-IL) will discuss the different aspects of Flemish architectural culture. Elements that are linked with the specific Flemish context, such as the Government Architect, the Open Call procedure and the Flanders Architectural Review, will be presented and discussed.

Archtober
The seventh annual Archtober, a month-long celebration of architecture and design, is set to take place October 1-31, 2018. Organized by the Center for Architecture the 2018 installment of Archtober gathers events ranging from daily building tours and lectures by design experts, to architecture-themed competitions and parties.