2022
Commitment
Ghent is a pioneer of social, political, societal and cultural change. This dynamism is a goldmine for the city. In order to exploit this gold mine to the full, we have set up a platform for reflection, depth, opinion and discussion on architecture: the ‘Architecture Platform Ghent’.
The Platform is a broadly supported urban network that gathers the most important Ghent players involved in architecture, design and spatial issues into an umbrella cooperation.
The first achievement of the Architecture Platform is the organisation of the very first ‘Ghent Architecture Prize’ in 2021. This yielded a lot: fascinating projects, pressing themes, important items on the agenda, heated discussions, social issues … A lot of material to make a working year of it. We look back on a rich harvest of projects with an eye to the future. The commitment to making the city together radiates from these projects. ENGAGEMENT!
In 2022, Archipel will mainly focus on Ghent, but will also look beyond its borders.
Ghent may not be a typical city for Flanders, but thanks to its urban condition and dynamism, Ghent is an example and sometimes a precursor for other cities. The recently organised Ghent Architecture Prize puts Ghent on the map as an architecture city. The constructive-critical debate on spatial issues, which we are organising in the wake of the Architecture Prize, is something we want to propagate far beyond the city boundaries in the next five years. What we learn in Ghent can awaken others, generate a new dynamic and provide answers for other cities in Flanders and Europe. Conversely, we also bring examples and insights from outside back to the city.
Hera Van Sande