For several years now, Urban has been hosting a monthly series of conferences that bring together the private and public sectors to discuss topics such as architecture, urban renewal, and cultural heritage.Known as ‘Urban Lunch’, these conferences provide an opportunity to meet, network, learn, and exchange ideas on urban topics.
At the beginning of this new year, and with the launch of Art Deco Brussels 2025 on the horizon, we are excited to introduce distinguished experts in architecture and monumental heritage.
For this 159th edition of Urban Lunch, we will also have the honour to welcome Mrs. Ans Persoons, Secretary of State for the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urban Planning and Heritage.
PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS
- Date: 28.01.2025
- Place: KBR Auditorium, Boulevard de l'Empereur 2, 1000 Brussels
- Reception and lunch (free): 11.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
- Conferences: 12.15 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.
PROGRAMME
Introduction - STEPHANE DEMETER, Historian – Urban
As coordinator of the Knowledge & Communication Directorate at Urban, Stéphane Demeter has been working at Urban for more than thirty years, spearheading various initiatives to raise awareness of cultural heritage in the Brussels-Capital Region. He will present the objectives of the Brussels Art Deco Year 2025, a project for which he is currently overseeing the coordination for Urban.
Stéphane Demeter will speak in French and Dutch.
MICHEL GOUTAL, Chief Architect of Historic Monuments
Michel Goutal is Chief Architect of Historic Monuments in France. He is notably responsible for iconic sites such as the Louvre and the Villa Cavrois and frequently undertakes missions for UNESCO. With his extensive expertise and many years of experience, he is a leading figure in the field of conservation and restoration.
As part of Art Deco Brussels 2025, Michel Goutal will give a detailed presentation on the restoration of the exteriors, interiors, and gardens of Villa Cavrois, a modernist villa designed by French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens and built between 1929 and 1932 in Croix. Representing a true "modern château," the villa was classified as a historic monument in 1990 and acquired by the French state in 2001. Numerous parallels exist between this villa and the Palais Stoclet, as architect Mallet-Stevens was the nephew of Suzanne Stoclet-Stevens.
Michel Goutal will speak in French.
CÉCILE MAIRY, Engineer-Architect
Cécile Mairy is an engineer-architect specialising in heritage. She is also a board member of the agency Origin, which focuses on conservation-restoration projects, and a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture in Louvain-la-Neuve.
The restoration and renovation of the Forest Town Hall began in 2004 and included work on both the façades and interiors. This listed monument, a key example of Brussels Art Deco, has now been fully restored to its original splendour. Moreover, there are clear parallels with the Villa Cavrois, as architect Dewin was similarly inspired by the Stoclet Palace.
Cécile Mairy will speak in French and Dutch.
BERNARD DUBOIS, Architect
Bernard Dubois is a Belgian architect of international renown. His work, which spans architecture, interior design, and furniture design, blurs the boundaries between different disciplines.
Bernard Dubois studied photography before obtaining his architecture degree in 2009 at the École de La Cambre. In 2014, he founded his own practice and co-curated the Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. From 2016 to 2019, he co-directed the AA Visiting School in Brussels.
Urban invited Bernard Dubois for his ability to draw inspiration from different periods, such as the Neoclassical and Art Deco movements, and translate them into a consistent, thoughtful aesthetic. This is particularly evident in the latest flagship boutique of LANVIN on Madison Avenue in New York.
Bernard Dubois will speak in English.
Art Deco Brussels 2025
This event joins the theme of the Art Deco Brussels 2025 programme, jointly led by Urban and visit.brussels, in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Patrimoine & Culture, and their many partners.
