On Thursday 20 November 2025, the Flanders Architecture Institute organises its annual research day in De Singel in Antwerp. Entitled Hors catégorie, it explores how archival classifications shape – but also limit – our understanding of design heritage. We invite researchers, designers, archivists, collection professionals, and heritage specialists to submit proposals for presentations.
Submit your proposal by 24 May 2025.
Each year, the Flanders Architecture Institute organises a research day to facilitate exchange between our activities and the wider research community. The event explores topical research questions which also concern the ongoing projects of the Flanders Architecture Institute’s Knowledge Centre and Collection. We reflect on questions which are relevant to researchers as well as the heritage sector.
This year’s edition explores how archival classifications shape – but also limit – our understanding of design heritage. How do we categorise objects, disciplines, and forms of authorship and what blind spots are produced through these systems? How can we consider practices that elude, transcend, or contest conventional institutional and historical classification? What to do with practices hors catégorie?
To get a better understanding of these issues we invite researchers, designers, archivists, collection professionals, and heritage specialists to respond to our call for presentations. We welcome presentations that focus on the following interrelated questions:
Do you want to contribute to the research day? Proposals for presentations can be sent to janno.martens@vai.be before 24 May 2025. Submissions should contain a short biography and an abstract of about 300 words. Proposals may be submitted in either English or Dutch. Notification of selection will be communicated by 20 June. Please note that presenters are expected to cover their own travel and lodging costs.
The programme of the research day will be published on 26 June 2025. Visitor registration will open the same day.
24.05.2025
