This talk will present Christophe Van Gerrewey’s Something Completely Different: Architecture in Belgium, a recent book exploring the essence of architecture through the lens of Belgian design since the country's founding in 1830. This small European nation serves as a microcosm for examining broader spatial issues and architectural practices that reflect key themes in modern Western society. The book comprises seven comprehensive essays that analyze Belgian architects' work over the past two centuries, focusing on political developments, social disparities, aesthetic considerations, urban planning, transportation, infrastructure, order and chaos, and cultural and ecological factors.
Through this exploration, Van Gerrewey presents a literary text that reveals both the strengths and limitations of architectural practice. Something Completely Different takes an innovative approach by embracing Belgian stereotypes, such as Baudelaire's description of Belgian monuments as "counterfeits of France," and employing a reflective, essay-like writing style. This unique perspective ultimately reveals that the true subject is not Belgium itself, but the fundamental nature of architecture, offering readers a fresh and thought-provoking examination of the field.
The Berlage Sessions is a thematic seven-part seminar series focusing on scholarly research and critical approaches to the history and theory of architecture and urban design. This autumn's series, entitled "Post, Publish, or Perish‽" is exploring how architects engage with various publication forms to disseminate their ideas, promote theirs and others work, engage with broader societal design questions, and influence and establish discourse.
