Call

Architects [reside]

What do architects do in a world full of challenges? Over the next two seasons, the VAi and DE SINGEL invite eight young architects* to explore this question during a twelve-week residency. Each resident will choose a single verb as the starting point for their research, experiment or project. Together, they will build a multifaceted picture of what architecture is or can be.

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Architects [reside]


Through the residency series, Architects [reside], the VAi and DE SINGEL aim to give young architects* the opportunity to develop their own unique interpretations of the discipline of architecture. Each resident completes the series title with a single verb that summarizes their position. Together, they will challenge the conventional image of what an architect is or does, and develop a multi-voiced view of the discipline.

The residency offers young architects* the space, time, opportunity, and budget to develop their own interpretation of architecture. At the end of the residency, they will share their findings with the VAi and DE SINGEL audiences. Both during the residency and at the presentation, a wide range of media and working methods are possible: from graphic to written work, from artistic to research practices, and from audiovisual media to actions or performances. The subject of the residency is also geared towards the development of a personal discourse: from concrete spatial projects to reflections on spatial themes or the methods and techniques employed.

Who is it for?

The residency programme Architects [reside] is aimed at young architects from Flanders and Brussels:

  • By ‘young’, we mean having been active for less than ten years in the capacity in which you wish to participate in the residency (e.g. running your own architectural practice), irrespective of your biological age.
  • By architects*, we mean the discipline in the broadest sense: alongside spatial designers, the call is explicitly open to artists, researchers, thinkers, writers, photographers, performers… who have an affinity for architecture and/or social issues with a spatial dimension.
  • We welcome anyone with a personal or professional connection to Flanders and/or Brussels, regardless of nationality, cultural background or place of residence. However, we do expect regular physical attendance at the residency venue in Antwerp.

What do we offer?

  • A workspace at the VAi for the duration of the residency. The current Christian Kieckens Studio serves as the operational base. It will occasionally be shared with other residents and/or external researchers. Depending on the nature of the residency, the possibility of using other facilities (technical and/or artistic) on campus may also be explored.
  • Professional support from the VAi and DE SINGEL in the areas of content development, production, communication and audience engagement for a public presentation.
  • A public presentation at the end of the residency, as part of the VAi and DE SINGEL programme.
  • A physical exhibition space in the corridors of DE SINGEL for a period of approximately two months.
  • A digital presentation (format to be confirmed) on the VAi website.
  • A production budget of €1,500.00, excluding VAT.
  • A residency fee of €3,000.00, including VAT. (This fee is based on an expected time commitment of one full working day per week over a 12-week residency period).
  • We accommodate residents in Dutch, English and French.

When?

The residencies will take place as follows:

  • Residency 1: Starts in August 2026, public presentation on Tuesday 17 November 2026
  • Residency 2: Starts in October 2026, public presentation on Thursday 14 January 2027
  • Residency 3: Starts in December 2026, public presentation on Thursday 18 March 2027
  • Residency 4: Starts in February 2027, public presentation on Thursday 13 May 2027

Selection

The selection of residents for the 2026-27 season will take place according to the following schedule:

  • Thursday 19 March 2026: Call for residents
  • Thursday 7 May 2026: Deadline for applications
  • May 2026: Selection of residents
  • June 2026: Schedule and appointments
  • August 2026: Announcement of residents

The selection committee comprises the management and staff of the VAi, representing a range of specialist fields. In making its selection, the VAi takes the following criteria into account:

  • The substantive and/or artistic potential of the proposal
  • The substantive complementarity of the selected applications
  • A balanced representation among the selected residents in terms of gender, ethnic and cultural background, professional and/or educational networks, …

The VAi will launch a new call for proposals for the 2027–28 season in the spring of 2027.

Interested?

Please compile your application into a single PDF file of no more than eight A4 pages, containing:

  • A title suggestion following the format Architects [reside…]: Enter a verb that best captures your perspective.
  • A statement of intent or proposal: In no more than 500 words, describe what you would like to create, explore or address during your residency.
  • A brief biography: In no more than 250 words, describe who you are and what you do. Don’t forget to mention your background in, or affinity with, architecture in Flanders and Brussels (e.g. your education, work experience, areas of interest, etc.)
  • A CV and/or portfolio of no more than four pages.

Please submit your application by 23:59 on Thursday 7 May 2026 at the latest, as an email attachment sent to info@vai.be. Please include your proposed title in the subject line.

Contact

Do you have any questions about this call for applications or the residency programme? If so, please contact the VAi via info@vai.be or +32 3 242 89 70.

Published on 17 March 2026

Practical

deadline

Please submit your application by 23:59 on Thursday 7 May 2026 at the latest, as an email attachment sent to info@vai.be. Please include your proposed title in the subject line.