House Europe! Architects against Demolition

On 19 November, ICA is hosting an event as part of HouseEurope!, a European campaign advocating renovation as the new standard. Instead of demolition, reuse, adaptation, and restoration lie at the heart of key strategies for a more sustainable and equitable built environment.

Every minute, a building disappears in Europe. Not due to a natural disaster, but because of human activity. Some profit from it, but you are the one who pays the price: through rising rents and rising temperatures. HouseEurope! aims to put an end to this destruction and make renovation the new norm. Because demolishing existing buildings is just as outdated as food waste, animal testing, fast fashion, or single-use plastics.

The evening will open with a screening of the documentary Power to Renovation, followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Audrey Contesse (Director of ICA). Several architectural practices active in Wallonia and Brussels will join to present inspiring projects in renovation, reuse, and the valorization of existing structures.

Following the 19 November event, join us again in March 2026 for another HouseEurope! encounter with one of the founding architects of the movement, Arno Brandlhuber - an opportunity to reflect on Belgian initiatives and on political action at the European level.

Evening Programme
19:00 – Introduction
19:15 – Film screening
19:45 – Roundtable discussion and presentations of the following projects:

• Chapex, AgwA + jan de vylder inge vinck
• La verrerie, Laboratoire + Baumans-Deffet + A2O Architecten
• Logements Général Jacques (with 82% reuse), Karbon’ + Label
  21:00 – Drink
  22:00 – End