A look back at how the selection committee for French-speaking representatives of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation operates, as seen from the inside. Here we see, over the years, a coherent culture taking shape through support for unique projects, spearheaded by young and promising candidates, set apart from the prevailing ‘contemporary’ architecture. This represents a break from the conformism that can result from the co-opting of members, whilst maintaining a necessary openness to current developments.

8 & 9 September 2006. The 10th Venice Architecture Biennale opens its doors. The Belgian Pavilion hosts the French Community’s third participation in Venice’s premier architectural event. Following an initial monographic exhibition on the work of Pierre Hebbelinck in 1996, Maurizio Cohen’s *Les îles flottantes* in 2002, it is now the turn of Label Architecture and Véronique Patteeuw to represent the French Community of Belgium with the project *La beauté de l’ordinaire. Ou comment je me suis disputé avec mon voisin*.