BRUZZ INTERVEIW - STRIPPING ARCHITECTURE

Yes, we were featured in the news! We are both humbled and honored to have been interviewed by a prestigious news outlet like BRUZZ, a highly regarded journalism agency in the Belgian capital.
This recognition is significant for us because, despite our confidence in the quality of our work, an external critique serves as a valuable trust validator.
The interview primarily focused on our work and reflections on Brussels, but we would like to emphasize some key points that may also apply to other cities.

1. In Belgium, architectural criticism is conducted at a high level. However, apart from a few professionals and enthusiasts, not many have access to this critique. We aim to reach a much broader audience. We want to formalize architectural and urban critique while making it accessible to everyone, including children.

2. "Many architects come from middle-class backgrounds and possess explicit educational capital. This situation inevitably leads to misunderstandings when they work in impoverished, working-class neighbourhoods."

3. Architects are trained to think with sensitivity to anthropology, sociology, and cultural nuances. Yet, in professional practice, it soon becomes clear that there is little room for such considerations. Technical standards, tight deadlines, and limited (public) budgets dominate. "Politicians think in cycles of about four years: results must be visible by the next elections," says Hammash. "Architecture has the power to quietly shape people's lives," adds Momikj. "That's why politicians favour it."

4. "Urban architecture is overly focused on the 'productive' segment of the population: fit, working individuals between 20 and 60 who have enough money to survive as consumers in the area."

5. The duo dislikes copying foreign success models, like the much-lauded 'Copenhagen model.' "You cannot blindly replicate such things in Brussels. You must consider the needs and sensitivities of the residents. This is still too infrequent."

6. "People feel displaced when their neighbourhood starts to change, even if it initially appears to improve, for instance, with more greenery and better mobility," says Momikj. "But there is a strong sense that decisions are made above their heads. We do not wish to condemn the intentions of politicians and governments, but if you neglect a neighbourhood for years and then suddenly begin upgrading it, problems will arise. Such a process should start by preventing neighbourhood deterioration. Provide residents with the means to renovate and enhance their homes, and only then initiate your prestige project in Pompidou style."

7. The public discourse on architecture often focuses too much on large, visible prestige projects, while 99% of the urban fabric consists of private homes, offices, and shops. This is frequently overlooked."

8. "A project like the “sustainable neighbourhood contracts” is one great anti-gentrification instrument ins Brussels and it has an average budget of 16 million euros.
One simple bank development of the new headquarters of BNP Paribas Fortis in Brussels  was a private investment of 320 million. That highlights the disparity," sighs Momikj.

Here you can check the full interview: 
Stripping Architects hekelen vijandige inrichting publieke ruimte | BRUZZ