The second edition of the Belgian Architectural Excellence Awards (BAEXA) took place last night at Palais 10, Brussels Expo, celebrating the very best of Belgian and international architecture. The event highlighted creativity, innovation, and social responsibility in the built environment.
Major Award Winners
- International Prize: Elizabeth and Christian De Portzamparc, for their outstanding lifetime body of work, including the Cité de la Musique in Paris and the Musée Hergé in Belgium. For the first time, the Franco-Brazilian couple—already recipients of some of the world’s most prestigious architectural awards—were honoured together.
- Grand Prize of Belgian Architecture: Pierre Blondel, in recognition of his significant contribution to Belgian architecture, with landmark projects such as the Leopold village and Destrier.
Regional Excellence
BAEXA also honoured leading practices across Belgium:
- Flanders: evr-architecten – Usquare a De Bijloke
- Brussels: Bogdan & – Bijgaardehof a Amal Amjahid Community Centre
- Wallonia: Olivier Fourneau Architecte – Quai Godefroid Kurth a Cockerill
- Young Talent Award: POOT ARCHITECTUUR, for their project Kasteel, Z33, recognised for its innovative and socially engaged approach.
European Support and Recognition
The presence of EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef a ACE President Daniel Fügenschuh underscored Europe’s commitment to architectural excellence. They emphasised the essential role of architects in creating sustainable, inclusive, and innovative communities that address Europe’s climate, social, and cultural challenges.
“Architectural awards serve as catalysts for scaling up excellence—while addressing Europe’s most pressing challenges,” said ACE President Daniel Fügenschuh.
Architecture with Purpose
Special thanks to Francis Metzger, co-organiser of BAEXA, and the distinguished jury representing leading figures from across Belgium and internationally. The evening also had a charitable dimension: all proceeds from a raffle were donated to Solidarité Logement, supporting housing solutions that foster the social integration of vulnerable people.
Credits photos: BAEXA 2026
