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Beauty in Architecture: A Conversation with Kristiaan Borret and Lisa De Visscher
On Wednesday 4th of March, Nele De Raedt and Maarten Delbeke enter into conversation on beauty in contemporary architecture with Kristiaan Borret and Lisa De Visscher, former and current Brussels Bouwmeester Master Architect (Government Architect). In so doing, they continue a discussion started in their recently edited volume, published with Bloomsbury, entitled Beauty in Architecture: Perspectives of Theory and Practice. While this book expressed the opinions of architects, artists, critics and historians, the floor is now given to policy makers. The evening was devoted to a discussion on the place of beauty in contemporary architecture, and on the conditions under which an inclusive, critical and nuanced conversation on beauty in architecture could be established.
| common:date | 04.03.2026 |
| Editors | Nele De Raedt & Maarten Delbeke |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
| common:more-info | In recent years, beauty has reappeared as a topic in debates surrounding the built environment, yet it remains a difficult and often controversial concept within architectural theory and criticism. When architects and scholars confront the idea, they tend to approach it cautiously—either placing it within a historical framework, limiting it to specific contexts, or replacing it with other terms such as order, legibility, atmosphere, or character, which can be just as ambiguous. The publication that was presented on 4th of March gathers contributions from thinkers, researchers, and practitioners to argue that beauty deserves to be addressed directly the architectural discourse. Engaging with the concept is important not only because the wider public speaks openly and frequently about beauty in relation to architecture, but also because taking the idea seriously can open up valuable and productive lines of inquiry. Drawing on a wide spectrum of viewpoints, this collection of essays explores the key themes, frameworks, and ideas that shape the ongoing conversation about beauty. It demonstrates how engaging with beauty opens up deeper questions about its nature and foundations, including its connections to values, communities, collective memory, the environment, identity, and political and legal structures. Essential reading for both designers and theorists, this volume introduces fresh approaches and innovative concepts that enrich and expand the dialogue on beauty in architecture. On Wednesday 4th of March, Nele De Raedt and Maarten Delbeke addressed the question of beauty in contemporary architecture with Kristiaan Borret and Lisa De Visscher, former and current Brussels Bouwmeester Master Architect (Government Architect). In so doing, they continued a discussion started in their recently edited book, published with Bloomsbury, entitled Beauty in Architecture: Perspectives of Theory and Practice. While this book expressed the opinions of architects, artists, critics and historians, the floor was then given to policy makers. The evening was devoted to a discussion on the place of beauty in contemporary architecture, and on the conditions under which an inclusive, critical and nuanced conversation on beauty in architecture could be established. We were joined on Wednesday 4 at 7pm in our exhibition space et al. to know more and participate in the discussion! Nele De Raedt is Associate Professor in History, Theory and Criticism of Architecture at LOCI UCLouvain. |