The Finger and the Moon : Belgian Architectural Competitions in their Representational Context

The way in which the majority of architectural competitions are conducted in Belgium is far from homogeneous, since each of the numerous public authorities is free to define its own procedures. In this paper we seek to better understand how the majority of architectural competitions are conducted in Belgium. Three case studies at different scales, each coming from one of the three Belgian regions : Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders are studied. Each competition is presented via a specific facet : the brief, the competition entries, and the jury’s judgement. We have chosen not to limit our empirical field to “exemplary” competition since it is often easier to understand a machine when it breaks down. Some considerations on the relationships between architectural competitions and the practice of architecture, emphasizing the representational context in which projects are carried out will be discussed