Building for Brussels – exhibition – Projects – Architecture Workroom Brussels

The Building for Brussels program aims to feed the debate on urban development in Brussels, gather new expertise and engage the general public in the transformation of their city. Brussels is facing enormous demographic growth, unemployment, mobility problems and a shortage of public facilities such as schools or sports infrastructure. Building For Brussels maps out Brussels' major societal challenges and investigates how architecture and urban planning can offer an answer.

Installation view 'Building for Brussels', 2012, Brussels

Installation view 'Building for Brussels', 2012, Brussels. Photo: Jeroen Verrecht

The Building for Brussels program started in 2010 as part of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. As custodian of the Building for Brussels exhibition, the Brussels-Capital Region invited Architecture Workroom Brussels to the Centre for Fine Arts.

The exhibition claims that a powerful architectural and urban development policy can offer an answer to social problems. In the search for solutions, Building for Brussels focuses on other major European metropolises. In recent years, cities such as Madrid, Zurich, Hamburg or Rotterdam have implemented an energetic policy to modernize the city and make it more liveable. Based on scale models, films, plans and photographs, the exhibition shows a selection of projects by Rem Koolhaas / Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Peter Zumthor, MVRDV, Lacaton & Vassal, Christ & Gantenbein and Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen. At the same time, the exhibition examines the possible significance of these visions and projects for the most important Brussels challenges.

Parallel to the exhibition, a series of round table discussions was set up in collaboration with the State Secretary for Urban Development, Emir Kir. The workshops put five metropolitan challenges of Brussels on the agenda:
1. How do we translate the housing shortage into a strategic future project?
2. How can public facilities transform the city?
3. How can architecture support the local economy?
4. How do we integrate the mobility infrastructure into the urban fabric?
5. What shape do we give to the city of tomorrow?
In addition, the workshops always questioned the role that architecture and urbanism can play in this. Key figures of urban development processes from all over Europe exchanged their expertise and shared their opinion with Brussels actors.

Type: exhibition

Year: 2010

Client: Brussels Capital Region

Coproduction: BOZAR

Curator: Architecture Workroom Brussels

Media partner: A+ Belgian Journal of Architecture

Exhibited practices: Alexandre Chemetoff, Christ & Gantenbein, Xaveer De Geyter, EM2N, FOA, Édouard François, Grafton Architects, Zaha Hadid, KCAP, Rem Koolhaas, Lacaton & Vassal, Jean Nouvel, Phalt Architekten, Bernardo Secchi, Peter Zumthor and many others

Graphic design: Prem Krishnamurthy and Chris Wu, Wkshps, New York

Exhibition architecture: V+, Brussels

Exhibition Guide 'Building for Brussels', 2012

Building for Brussels Overview At present, Brussels is facing some major social challenges. In the coming years the population will continue to grow, and an increased focus on issues such as jobs, mobility, and public amenities like schools and sporting infrastructure is required. The Building for Brussels exhibition argues that a powerful architectural and urban planning policy can provide answers to these challenges. The current situation offers an opportunity for Brussels to clearly define its ambitions and build the city of tomorrow. In its search for answers, Building for Brussels is looking to other major European cities. In recent years, cities like Madrid, Zürich, Hamburg and Rotterdam have implemented effective policies geared towards modernisation and improving quality of life. Radical urban transformations have boosted economic development, created jobs, facilitated access to public transport, enabled sufficient affordable housing, and regenerated the urban framework and public space. Building for Brussels examines how high-quality architectural and urban planning projects can offer answers to the social challenges of the capital of Europe. Using models, films, plans and photographs the exhibition presents a selection of projects designed by highly reputed as well as emerging architects such as Rem Koolhaas/Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Peter Zumthor, MVRDV, Richard Rogers, Lacaton Vassal, Christ & Gantenbein and Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen. The exhibition looks at the potential meaning of these visions and projects for the most pressing challenges Brussels is facing.

Building for Brussels - New Districts During Belgium's EU presidency, the Brussels Region seeks out European expertise for the architecture of future urban developments. This exhibition looks at some outstanding projects in European cities and considers their relevance to the challenges facing Brussels: demographic growth, mobility, public services, new industries, and, last but not least, accommodation for international institutions.

Building for Brussels - Mobility During Belgium's EU presidency, the Brussels Region seeks out European expertise for the architecture of future urban developments. This exhibition looks at some outstanding projects in European cities and considers their relevance to the challenges facing Brussels: demographic growth, mobility, public services, new industries, and, last but not least, accommodation for international institutions.

Building for Brussels - Public Services During Belgium's EU presidency, the Brussels Region seeks out European expertise for the architecture of future urban developments. This exhibition looks at some outstanding projects in European cities and considers their relevance to the challenges facing Brussels: demographic growth, mobility, public services, new industries, and, last but not least, accommodation for international institutions.

Building for Brussels - Demography During Belgium's EU presidency, the Brussels Region seeks out European expertise for the architecture of future urban developments. This exhibition looks at some outstanding projects in European cities and considers their relevance to the challenges facing Brussels: demographic growth, mobility, public services, new industries, and, last but not least, accommodation for international institutions.

Urban Economy Video, Victor Vroegindeweij, Building for Brussels exhibition, BOZAR, 2010 Why does the dominant urban development culture drive the local manufacturing economy and logistics out of the city? While the rate of unemployment in cities is so high, and the city is the main market for goods?

Objects


	Construire Bruxelles guide-FR	8 MB
	Bouwen voor Brussel guide-NL	8 MB

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2010: Building for Brussels

Building for Brussels breaks with the laws of the classical architectural exhibition. It doesn’t show beautiful, special or spectacular buildings that are a statement by themselves. Instead, it argues that architecture can be a lever to tackle major societal challenges (such as demographic growth, mobility, urban economy). The selection of international, innovative city projects gives you a taste of how things can be done differently and better. Or how architectural culture can provoke and inspire Brussels policy makers.

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