More and more architects are designing flexible buildings capable of adapting to changing functions, user needs and social developments. A smart or open plan, a hybrid typology and demountable systems often play a key role in this. But is this really a new concept? The use of flexible floor plans, not only in housing projects but also in public buildings, is a recurring theme in architectural history, it turns out. How are such plans applied, then and now, and how do flexible projects age? And does flexibility equate to the deliberate oversizing of building structures, so that they might accommodate future programmes? In A+316, we investigate to what extent these flexible buildings are also effectively sustainable and future-oriented, and what architectural language – other than unarticulated and generic – we can use for them.

A+317 focuses on the small, the precise, the meticulous: the structural detail as a thought process. Architectural detail is not viewed merely as a technical solution, but as an integral part of the architectural design, as a vehicle for meaning, beauty and craftsmanship. From hand-drawn junctions to parametrically generated connections: in A+317, we examine the role of the detail drawing in the design process and how seemingly simple details have often become extremely complex today due to regulations, sustainability requirements and construction technology. We also explore the implications of the reuse of materials and products for the on-site conception of architectural details, in direct interaction with the site context. We analyse hand-drawn and digital details by various architects, with commentary on material, scale and meaning.

Guest editor: Aurélie Hachez

We often regard the street as a functional thoroughfare: a hard infrastructure focused on speed, flow and efficiency, as a ‘machine of movement’. But what if we approach the street as a fully-fledged architectural space, as a public room between the buildings, in close dialogue with the façades that define it? In a series of essays, we explore the issue of the redistribution of public space, examining what constitutes the right to the street, what gender-sensitive planning would entail, and what the relationship is between street design and immediate living. We look at international examples from Paris, Barcelona and New York, and showcase Belgian pilot projects that are testing a different typology of the street; from hard streets and unyielding pavements, to a green, softened meeting space with soft mobility.

Guest editor: Gideon Boie

In times of ecological, social and economic crisis, a conversation about beauty in architecture long seemed problematic and even controversial. Aesthetics were subordinate to more urgent values: sustainability, inclusion, context sensitivity. Yet the debate on beauty appears to be playing a significant role once again today. The New European Bauhaus explicitly states that architecture must not only be functional and sustainable, but also aesthetic. Talking about beauty evokes important reflections, not only on collective values and shared histories, but also on identity and political mechanisms. What does this mean for designers, and what new design language will emerge from it? Is there a new aesthetic canon emerging from reuse, circular construction and material recovery? In A+319, we explore how aesthetics is repositioning itself in architectural practice.

Guest editor: Maarten Delbeke

Architectural practice is under immense pressure today. Whilst standards and social responsibilities are increasing, fair remuneration and workable conditions remain elusive. The sector is grappling with an unhealthy culture of competition, low fees, complex regulations and a lack of collective bargaining power. At the same time, the rise of artificial intelligence is forcing the discipline to reassess its creative and professional identity. What does it mean to be an architect in an age where demands regarding design, technology, entrepreneurship and social engagement are ever-increasing? A+320 explores how we can build a fairer, more resilient and future-oriented profession, with shared responsibility among the Association, educational institutions, clients and the architects themselves.

In A+311, we explore the architect’s obsession with the shape of the circle and the painstaking quest for the right organisation within this abstract figure. We also question the use of the circular form as a symbol of either unity and connectedness, or control and discipline. Furthermore, we ask ourselves whether, in a world where architecture must be circular (sustainable), we can still even speak of circular (circular-shaped) buildings. The keynote for this first issue is written by Job Floris, architect and co-founder of Monadnock (NL).

In A+312, we present the latest insights into plant intelligence and explore what natural growth processes can mean for the development of architecture and urban planning. Drawing on an understanding of natural phenomena, buildings and cities can become truly ecological. Co-editor is landscape architect Bas Smets, who is designing the redevelopment of ‘Les Abords de Notre-Dame’ in Paris and curating the exhibition ‘Building Biospheres’ for the Belgian Pavilion during the 19th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Guest editor: Bas Smets

A+313 Parallel Practices explores the self-initiated design or research that architects develop in parallel with and on an equal footing to their regular projects commissioned by a client. In this issue, together with guest editor Evelien Pieters, we examine how these alternative architectural practices can serve as a breeding ground for the architectural sector, and how they serve the public interest. For the work that takes place between the lines of building practice often harbours a greater social commitment and a sense of social responsibility.

Guest editor: Evelien Pieters

A+314 Collective Authorship is about co-creation, and more specifically about the collaborations architects enter into with end-users on the one hand, and with people from other disciplines on the other. Whereas the design process used to be top-down, driven by an individual, it now increasingly takes place in a horizontal, collective manner, as a group. But what exactly does this relatively new way of working entail? What are the opportunities and the challenges? How can we learn from previous examples and other fields where co-creation is more commonplace? And what exactly does this shift mean for the architect’s role in the design and construction process? Moreover: why would architectural practice – and, by extension, society – benefit from co-creation? In A+314 – co-edited by Stéphane Damsin and Jan Haerens, founders of the Brussels-based architecture firm Ouest – we explore these questions and examine the implications of co-creation for the stakeholders, residents and future users.

Guest editor: Ouest (Stéphane Damsin and Jan Haerens)

Abroad, public commissioning in Belgium is viewed with admiration. Yet it is by no means only public authorities that shape our built environment. On the contrary: in no other European country is the influence of private developers on the landscape as great as it is here. The deep-rooted tradition of private building initiatives has played a fundamental role in shaping the character of our towns and villages. Yet the quality of this private development remains highly variable to this day. Some projects excel in architectural and urban planning quality, whilst others remain mired in banality or mere profit maximisation. In A+315, we explore which tools, formulas, policy measures, design strategies or forms of collaboration can encourage private clients to realise better architecture.

Guest editor: Sofie De Caigny

Cities are investing heavily in cultural infrastructure, such as the M HKA in Antwerp, the S.M.A.K. in Ghent, the new theatre in Louvain-la-Neuve or the Beer Museum in the former Stock Exchange building in Brussels. What exactly are these new emblematic buildings and how are they reshaping the city? What kind of architecture represents cultural infrastructure today, and how does it relate to existing city marketing strategies? A+ dissects the architecture of new cultural buildings and analyses how they can give the city not only a new face but also a new identity.

According to the location criteria of the Regional Spatial Implementation Plan, business parks and industrial zones are intended solely for research, development, production and logistics, but there is an increasing demand for a functional mix with other, more urban functions. Economic space today presents a new design challenge involving typological research that results in projects such as the ‘stacked city’ or other practices that promote the mixing of functions. A+ is investigating projects currently in the pipeline.

This issue pays tribute to the architectural, tangible, sometimes rough or conversely soft skin of a building or room. We focus both on interior projects in which tactile surfaces or radical patterns are striking, and on façade finishes featuring relief or recesses. The focus is on craftsmanship, the use of materials and the technological developments that make it possible to design a space with a specific atmosphere, warmth and/or acoustics, where the result lies at the intersection of architecture and interior design.

Many iconic institutional buildings in village and town centres, such as churches and monuments, have been repurposed in recent years. They often retained their public function and became libraries or childcare centres, offices or service spaces, covered markets or village squares, art academies or music rooms. A+ investigates the impact of the de-institutionalisation and decolonisation of these buildings, as well as the landmark status of these symbolic places for the community following their repurposing.

Rotor enjoys international recognition as a pioneer in the reuse of building elements. The reuse of materials is a key focus in the transition to a circular economy. Central to Rotor’s work is the observation that ecological transformations cannot be achieved purely through technocratic means, but must also be socio-economically and culturally embedded. As part of the Rotor exhibition ‘Entangled Matter’, we have asked the collective to act as guest editors for a special issue of A+ focusing on circularity and the reuse of materials. This is therefore not a monograph on Rotor’s work, but an issue in which they, together with the editorial team, outline the content, addressing themes such as overstock, economies of scale, and short supply chains versus global networks.

Guest editor: Rotor

Belgium is a laboratory for emerging talent. Young architects are afforded many opportunities thanks to a rich variety within architectural education and specific procedures that grant them access to public commissions. Who are the young lions who are (or will be) shaping the architecture of the first half of the 21st century, and with what work are they making their debut? How do they express their critical vision, their ambition, and their expectations for the future? A+ gives the new generation of architects a voice and showcases the work and collaborations that enabled them to set up a practice and shape the future. Issue 300 is a special anniversary edition; this milestone issue marks the first magazine of the year in which A+ celebrates its 50th anniversary. A+ looks back at the young lions in the magazine’s history.

Housing is a basic right, but it is becoming increasingly expensive. In Brussels, as well as in Flanders and Wallonia, pressure on the housing market is rising, driving the lower middle class and families out of the city. In recent years, various initiatives have joined forces to reverse this trend, from both the public and private sectors. This has resulted in new forms of housing, such as cohousing, as well as alternative forms of ownership. One example is the Community Land Trust, where people own the home but not the land. Various social housing projects are also addressing this urgent need. A+ investigates the impact this has on the architecture and urban planning of housing.

Two years ago, Wallonia was hit by a deluge from which it is still far from having recovered. A year later, Belgium is sweltering under the heat, resulting in a massive water shortage. For years, water in Belgium seemed primarily to be something one had to get rid of as quickly as possible. Various periods of severe drought, followed by major flooding, have made us realise that water management is more complex. Architecture and spatial planning can offer solutions to the water issue in the ‘ ’. A+ returns both to the province of Liège, two years after the floods, and to areas affected by drought, to examine which concrete projects have been realised.

Due to the exponential growth in student numbers, the infrastructure for higher education is literally bursting at the seams. Not only is there a demand for extra capacity, but the existing buildings – which often date from the mid-20th century – are in need of renovation for both ecological and pedagogical reasons. Following the coronavirus crisis, distance learning has become established and has transformed the spatial configuration of teaching. Interaction with the surrounding environment and the role that higher education plays in the (economic) revival of smaller towns are also becoming increasingly important. Drawing on recent projects, A+ explores the needs of contemporary education and research, and reveals the impact of the architecture of a learning landscape or campus.

How can architecture foster social inclusion? Prisons, psychiatric institutions or migration centres are an integral part of society. Thanks to well-considered architecture, these inclusive spaces are also locally anchored and integrated into the urban fabric. Can architecture that responds to integration and connection make us view these kinds of programmes differently? And how do you manage the boundaries between private and public, between security and accessibility? A+ explores the dynamics these programmes generate and the aesthetics they entail.

A+ is once again organising the Brussels Architecture Prize, thereby honouring recent projects by Belgian or foreign architects in Brussels and by Brussels-based firms in Belgium or abroad. This biennial prize is awarded in various categories, including small and large-scale interventions, public space, innovative practices, ‘Promising Young Architect’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement’. The English-language special edition A+305 provides a comprehensive and illustrated account of all the nominations, the judging process and the winning projects. This special edition will be published during the festive presentation of the Brussels Architecture Prize.

Brick is regarded as one of the traditional building materials of Northern European architecture, used both for load-bearing structures and as facing brick on façades. Furthermore, there is a growing focus on brick due to its significant circular potential and in the context of the energy transition. A+ explores contemporary Belgian brick architecture, focusing on the technical, structural and physical aspects of the material, and also publishes the detailed plans. This dossier is published to mark the lecture on 15 March: A+Talk on Brick, in collaboration with Ghent University as part of an international colloquium on brick architecture. This lecture also serves as the launch of this issue.

In recent years, far more people have started working from home. This has had a major impact on the office sector, which has already been struggling with high vacancy rates in recent years. Moreover, many office buildings dating from the 1960s and 1970s are due for large-scale renovations, and the single-purpose office tower is now an anachronism in which no further investment is being made. As a result, many office buildings are being repurposed as homes or schools. We are seeing alternative typologies emerge that accommodate various functions, such as living, working and leisure, with the interior also playing a key role. A+ explores the future of the office today in the age of remote working and examines the impact of renovation in terms of typology, programme, densification and technical challenges.

Even architects sometimes need a break. The competition within the competition culture, increasing regulation or the extensive administration involved in public commissions make architects long for greater simplicity. In this issue, A+ publishes small-scale projects with a special focus on the architect’s own (second) home. For even more than an escape from the rat race, designing for oneself is above all a quest for slowness, lightness, freedom and, above all, experimentation. This results in distinctive, small-scale architecture in which both the designer and the user can escape the pressures of the system thanks to specific spatial qualities, material choices and alternative energy concepts (such as off-the-grid building).

The construction sector accounts for a significant share of energy consumption. If we are to meet the Paris climate targets, this consumption must be drastically reduced. How can the production and sharing of renewable energy go hand in hand with reducing consumption through the renovation of homes? What are the projects of today and tomorrow that integrate an alternative energy system? How can architecture contribute to energy management? A+ explores what the energy-efficient city looks like today and what impact this has on architecture, both technically and aesthetically. As part of this issue, A+ is also organising a colloquium in which various stakeholders will debate the role of architecture and urban planning in the energy transition. This event will also mark the launch of this issue.

Guest editor: Geert Palmers

Public facilities such as town halls, fire stations, police stations or post offices are characterised by architecture with a strong typological tradition. Increasing digitalisation and changing needs are key drivers for the evolution of these buildings. In this issue, A+ explores the typology of service-oriented architecture and publishes projects that are putting this sector back on the map.

Architecture from Belgium receives a great deal of attention and acclaim abroad. This is partly due to a rigorous architectural policy that has been rolled out over the last twenty years: bodies such as the Flemish and Brussels Government Architects, the various City Architects, procedures such as the Open Call, and the establishment of the Cellule Architecture and now also the ICA/WB all contribute to this in their own way. But regional cultural players and public clients also play an important role. A+ publishes a wide range of completed projects from recent years, using these to examine how this policy drives architectural quality and what changes are needed to maintain and enhance it. A+ is also organising a debate with the various stakeholders on the role and impact of policy in a bottom-up architectural field. This debate also marks the launch of this issue.

Housing is more than a choice between a house or a flat, in the city or outside it. The housing issue encompasses spatial quality, densification and affordability. During the Covid-19 crisis, the home, willy-nilly, became a high-performance machine. The place where you not only live, but also work, teach, relax, and live in close proximity with housemates or, conversely, live in complete isolation— . In this issue, we explore the impact of this shift in function on typology and spatiality.

There is an ever-increasing demand for sustainable architectural solutions where the honest use of materials and bespoke craftsmanship take precedence. This is not just about traditional techniques and local materials, but also about the collaboration between designer and builder, and about the transfer of knowledge. A+ explores the importance of craftsmanship for the future of architecture. Here, we highlight a number of materials and techniques, such as building with wood, brick and clay, amongst others.

The Covid-19 crisis has once again highlighted the fact that dignified living and working in the city depend on high-quality public space. Squares and streets where there is room for cyclists and pedestrians, sunshine and greenery. In the city, alternative cycle paths, school streets, liveable streets, and the (temporary) reduction of parking spaces showed how things can suddenly be done differently. In villages and the urban periphery, high-quality public space remains a priority. How can we sustain this trend? Who are the key players influencing it? What makes the difference for a neighbourhood?

The range of facilities for children – such as schools, nurseries, sports infrastructure, libraries, playgrounds and skate parks – largely determines the liveability of a place. That is why, in this issue, A+ does not start from a specific programme, but from that target group. We look at the built environment through the eyes of a child and provide an overview of projects that create a stimulating and inspiring environment for young people growing up.

Driven by ecological and economic convictions, public and private clients are increasingly opting to repurpose large-scale structures and reuse materials. In doing so, they contribute to the further development of the circular economy. An old office building becomes a school, a factory or silo is converted into housing, and a former gendarmerie barracks is given a new lease of life as a hub for designers and artists. A+292 explores the architectural, urban and social possibilities of conversion, with a focus on large-scale buildings.

In 2021, A+ is organising a Brussels Prize for Architecture, thereby honouring recent projects by Belgian or foreign architects in Brussels and by Brussels-based firms in Belgium or abroad. This prize will be awarded biennially, in various categories, including private interventions, public buildings, public space, innovative practices, and promising young architects. The English-language special edition A+293 provides a comprehensive and illustrated account of all the nominations, the judging process and the winning projects.

In this issue, A+ explores the identity of the ‘village’ and the ‘countryside’ in an urbanised region such as Flanders or a more rural and post-industrial region such as Wallonia. The spatial challenges within a rural context are diverse, ranging from mobility and accessibility to landscape interventions and the need for a new architectural language that addresses the identity issues villages are grappling with today. What is village architecture today, and what are the effects of the concrete ban, the Mobiscore and the Government Architect’s Scan?

This issue focuses on architecture for people in vulnerable situations: the elderly, the sick, psychiatric patients and prisoners. Each of them lives in a place, within a structure, that they did not choose. We are seeing a shift towards a more humane, less medicalised or less punitive environment. Caring architecture pays meticulous attention to the small-scale, the intimate, the secure, the homely, and the way in which specific materials are used to achieve this goal.

Belgian architecture receives a great deal of media attention abroad, but it often centres on the same firms and the same award-winning projects. With this special edition, A+ aims to showcase emerging talent: (young) firms that are currently, at the cutting edge, shaping our spatial and social context. A+ showcases the work of firms at a turning point in their careers, a moment of renewal that calls for professionalisation, growth and capacity building, without compromising on identity or quality. A+ will launch this special edition at the end of May at the Venice International Architecture Biennale and in September in Brussels.

This year, a series of major museums are being completed, whilst others are in the starting blocks. What is the impact of these large and prestigious projects on the cities in which they are being built? What framework do they create for the exhibited works, which are placing ever-greater demands in spatial, technical and climatic terms? What makes the museum of the 21st century so special? A+285 is an issue about new buildings for (contemporary) art, focusing not only on architecture but also on the tension between building, artwork and visitor.

A building’s structural framework is often concealed beneath layers of insulation, cladding, plasterboard and render. Sometimes it is revealed and defines the spatial experience of the space. In such cases, it serves as the formal articulation of the entire building. Sometimes a building is essentially structure, as is the case with bridges or certain industrial buildings. In many large-scale regeneration projects, the structure is often the only ‘authentic’ element that is truly preserved. With an ever-increasing demand for circular material management, structural elements play a key role. A+ engages in dialogue with various engineering firms and technical experts.

The ecological and economic challenges we are grappling with today on a global scale have set in motion a process of awareness that is prompting a different way of thinking and acting. Architectural practice, too, is undergoing profound change. We see this in the development and use of new materials, where sustainability, safety and circularity are increasingly the driving forces. The new generation of pioneering architects, planners, sociologists, developers, materials manufacturers and entrepreneurs is ready to step up a gear. But under what conditions – or, put another way, at what cost – can we accelerate, grow and multiply? As we scale up, do we run the risk of commercialisation (‘greenwashing’) and a loss of quality? What are the critical success factors for high-quality innovations in our design practice?

Guest editor: Roeland Dudal (Architecture Workroom Brussels)