How can we ensure decent fees for architects? Three experts in the field share their views. ‘Fair fees for projects and project studies’ are a key focus of the 2017–2020 multi-year programme recently published by the Vlaams Bouwmeester, Leo Van Broeck. He states that “the development of a Flemish architectural culture since the 1980s has indeed increased recognition of conceptual and creative work in the field, but that the economic value placed on it has continued to decline.”

On Wednesday 5 April, Leo Van Broeck initiated a discussion with a number of experts on the sensitive issue of architects’ remuneration. Participants included: Kristiaan Borret (Chief Architect of the Brussels-Capital Region), Chantal Dassonville (Deputy Director-General of the Architecture Unit of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation), Leo Van Broeck (Chief Architect of Flanders), Sylvie Bruyninckx (Vice-President of the BVA) and Pieter T’Jonck (Editor-in-Chief of A+). Starting from the alarming observation of architects’ financial precariousness, they discussed how architectural competitions might, at their level, help tackle the problem.