British architecture critic Ellis Woodman, a member of the jury for the Brussels Architecture Prize 2025, has been closely following architectural developments in Belgium for years. He often does so with admiration – and a hint of envy. According to him, the appointment of the first Brussels Chief Architect Maître Architecte in 2009 marked a turning point that set in motion a transformation of spatial planning and architectural quality. The Brussels Architecture Prize, which has been awarded since 2021, is a crowning achievement of this revival. The entries for the 2025 edition, the year in which Kristiaan Borret’s influential term of office ends, showcase a rich and diverse body of work that reflects a culture of openness, collaboration and international exchange. Brussels has put itself on the map as a vibrant architectural city that can compete with the best in Europe.

As a British architecture critic with an international outlook, I have been travelling to Belgium for almost twenty years to write about new buildings. Each time, I felt admiration, tinged with a slight pang of envy: Belgium’s overwhelming abundance of high-quality contemporary architecture and its thoughtful approach to spatial planning and the awarding of commissions have long stood in stark contrast to the situation in my own country. For years, however, the architectural revival seemed to be almost exclusively a Flemish affair. Brussels seemed remarkably unambitious; although the city is home to some of the country’s most renowned firms, their best work was usually to be found elsewhere.