Belgian Pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale

The Belgian pavilion at Biennale Architettura 2025

This call seeks for proposals that explore themes of pressing relevance to contemporary international discourse in art or architecture. The open call is directed at multidisciplinary teams led by a professional in the field of architecture who is either based in Flanders or Brussels or can evidence significant cultural integration.

Proposals must be both theoretically robust and conceptually rich, crafted to captivate visitors through impactful visual and physical experiences within the Belgian pavilion.

The Flanders Architecture Institute commits to providing detailed oversight throughout the concept’s evolution. Furthermore, the envisioned project should offer flexibility for adaptation to suit potential future exhibitions in other venues.

While the selection of the Flemish entry for the Belgian pavilion at 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale will proceed without reference to its yet-to-be-announced overarching theme, the chosen project should, where possible, echo the principal theme of the event.

Jury

The jury consists of the following members:

• Dennis Pohl (Director Flanders Architecture Institute, President of the jury)
• Erik Wieërs (Vlaams Bouwmeester)
• Tom Avermaete (Professor for the History and Theory of Urban Design, ETH Zürich)
• Adinda Van Geystelen (General & Artistic Director at Z33)
• Inge Vinck (Architect, AJDVIV, Gent and Düsseldorf)
• Sofie De Caigny (Departing Director Flanders Architecture Institute)
• Hülya Ertas (Coordinator of exhibitions and publications at the Flanders Architecture Institute)

Timeline

• Phase 1 | Open Call
  
  Submissions should include a concise vision statement and one illustration. The text and image should provide information about the content focus and the exhibition concept with a clear reference to urgent societal questions.
  
  The jury will select up to three candidates for theshortlist, who will be invited to elaborate on their projects. These shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to present their further developed concepts to the jury in a subsequent session. The projects selected for the shortlist will be announced by May 20.
  
  > Deadline for Phase 1: May 5, 2024
  

• Phase 2 | Closed Competition - June 2024
  
  The selection committee chooses up to three teams to be invited to participate in 'Phase 2'. These teams will develop a detailed exhibition concept.
  
  > Deadline for Phase 2: June 16, 2024
  

• Phase 3 | Implementation July 2024 – May 2025
  
  Selection of the laureate who will fill the Belgian pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale and start of production.
  
  > Pavilion opening on May 24, 2025

Submission for 'Phase 1' includes:

• A concise document containing the text that accurately explains your proposal in a maximum of 1000 words on two A4 pages in Dutch or English;
• One illustration (sketch, photo, collage...) to visually explain the concept;

• Three concise references/projects on one A4 page that frame the relevant expertise and competence;
• A preliminary budget estimation.*

> PDF format A4 portrait or landscape, max 5 mb, max 5 pages, min 72 dpi

The document should cover:

• A clearly formulated vision in relation to a contemporary architectural discourse;
• An indication of the concrete perspectives (architectural, urban planning, landscape, socio-cultural, historical, and visual) that will be connected;
• An image that demonstrates how this vision will be communicated in a powerful exhibition;
• A vision for adapting the project for presentation at a secondary location;
• A clear description of the team and the disciplines that will be involved;
• A mention of a principal responsible and primary contact point for the Flanders Architecture Institute.

> download the floor plan of the Belgian pavilion

Submission for 'Phase 2' includes:

• A project title;
• An in-depth project description with all pertinent visual materials (layout plans, photos, videos, etc.).
• A comprehensive budget outline specifying the costs of major expenses;*
• A precise schedule tailored to meet deadlines that will be sent over to the selected candidates after the first session;
• A detailed plan for the project's adaptation to a second venue.

Shortlisted candidates for the second phase will receive a €3,500 (incl. VAT) allowance for further application preparation towards the project’s completion in the next phase. The names of the shortlisted projects will be announced publicly.

The jury’s deliberation for the second session will take place between June 23 and July 5. Applicants will be invited to present their project in the presence of the jury.

Please note that the jury’s decision is considered final.

The criteria for the evaluation are:

• Clarity and contemporary relevance of the vision
• Artistic and visual quality of the proposal in its translation into a strong scenography
• Composition of a team in which both design experience and reflection are present in an innovative way
• Feasibility of the project and budgetary coherence

*Budget Overview:

The budget designated for exhibition production, scenography and authorship rights is € 130.000 (incl. VAT). This should be incorporated into the overall provisional budget to be submitted for the budget estimation. The Flanders Architecture Institute will cover the costs for production coordination, catalogue, transport, setup and breakdown, travel and accommodation, communication, public events, insurance, and aftercare.