Study and design agency SBE is the only Belgian agency to win an award at the prestigious World Landscape Architecture (WLA) Awards. The Upgrading River Lys project was awarded the Outstanding Award in the Built Masterplan & Urban Design category.
Following rigorous evaluation by a world-class jury of the entries for the WLA Awards 2025, World Landscape Architecture announces the winners. This year's competition attracted more than 300 entries from 30 countries, a testament to the awards’ truly international scope and the diverse excellence within the landscape architecture profession worldwide.
The WLA Awards were established to showcase projects that push the boundaries of design, demonstrate exceptional environmental stewardship, foster vibrant communities, and address critical global challenges through landscape-led solutions. Discover the projects that were selected as the very best in their category here.
Within this project, SBE is commissioned by De Vlaamse Waterweg nv to build a landscape that combines economy, ecology and recreation. With nature-friendly banks, greater biodiversity and space for experiences, we are turning the Leie back into a river that is alive, for both people and nature.
‘This international recognition is the culmination of years of intensive work,’ says An Schoenmaekers, leading architect at SBE. ‘With Upgrading River Lys, we have demonstrated how infrastructure projects can go hand in hand with liveability, nature and urban development. We are particularly proud that this is now being recognised worldwide.’
