And Now For Something Completely Different

Abstract

Something Completely Different. Architecture in Belgium, by critic Christophe Van Gerrewey, offers a sharp and insightful exploration of Belgian architecture as a mirror of Western modernization since the 19th century. Rather than presenting a catalogue of exemplary projects, the author constructs a critical historiography through seven thematic essays, each with its own internal logic and chronology. These chapters address issues that transcend disciplinary and national boundaries such as urban sprawl, the rise of the automobile, the industrialization of mass housing or today’s ecological awareness. Drawing on thinkers like Geert Bekaert, Charles Baudelaire, and Walter Benjamin, Van Gerrewey argues that Belgium serves as a revealing laboratory for understanding contemporary architectural dilemmas. The presence of contemporary practices such as XDGA, Architecten De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, OFFICE kgdvs, and Rotor makes this book essential reading for anyone seeking to grasp the cultural and historical context behind these internationally acclaimed Belgian offices.