Demolishing modernist architecture?

Should we wipe out our modernist architectural heritage to build the city of tomorrow? Last summer's announcement of the demolition of the C&A building in Namur, designed by architects Léon Stynen and Paul de Meyer, to make way for a development project on Square Léopold, provoked a diverse range of reactions. According to a survey launched by L'Avenir Namur, both experts and the Namur population were in favor of maintaining the building.

Is this case indicative of a lack of interest in Wallonia in protecting the heritage of architecture that reflects the twentieth century, and more specifically the modernist period? Or does it demonstrate that the transition from an architecture of the tabula rasa to an architecture of the transformation of the existing to build the city of tomorrow, is not yet sufficiently relevant in Wallonia? Discover this meeting, co-organized by ICA, DOCOMOMO Belgium and GAR, which addresses the following questions: How can we bring witnesses of the past up to current standards, while respecting their legacy as much as possible? How can we define what should and shouldn't be protected? How can we change the way we look at heritage, often described as "ugly"? How can we make politicians and citizens aware of the importance of preserving this heritage? What is the potential for transforming this modernist architectural heritage? Various experts gathered on November 8, 2022 at the Cultural Center of Namur to provide answers and fuel the necessary reflection.

Audio and video recording, editing: Gagus Productions (Alexis Jeannot)