Save | Change the City

The exhibition “Save | Change the City”, at the CIVA foundation in Brussels, explores the alternatives proposed in the 1950s and 1960s in order to achieve a liveable city.

Victor Bourgeois, Nouveau Bruxelles, masterplan, 1930. Coll. AAM/Fondation CIVA Stichting

The “Save | Change the City” exhibition presents an overview of the Sint-Lukasarchief and the Archives d’Architecture Moderne’s activities in opposition to ‘Brusselisation’, and explores the alternatives that the two associations proposed in the 1950s and 1960s in order to achieve a liveable city – one with respect for its citizens, its architecture, and its heritage. Their key weapon was the creation of unique archives. An inventory was drawn up of the heritage and research – into the importance of Victor Horta’s work and art nouveau, for example – was carried out, libraries were set up, exhibitions were organised: no effort was spared in the effort to counter the lack of vision on the part of property developers and the authorities in relation to town planning and the city’s heritage.

Top: Victor Bourgeois, Nouveau Bruxelles, masterplan, 1930. Coll. AAM/Fondation CIVA Stichting. Above: “Save | Change the City”, exhibition view, CIVA, Brussels, 2017

“Save | Change the City”, exhibition view, CIVA, Brussels, 2017

Julien Schillemans, De Wereldstadt, utopian project of a comunist city for 35.000 inhabitants, 1928-31. Coll. AAM/Fondation CIVA Stichting

Henry Lacoste with Lucien De Vestel, Royak Museum of Natural History, renovation and extension project, overall persepective view, Brussels, 1930. Coll. AAM / CIVA Stichting Foundation

Avenue Louise Mencee, demolition of the corner building, 1978. Architect Henri Maquet, 1873. Coll. Fondation CIVA - Sint-Lukasarchief

Architectes Jean-Pierre Hoa, Philippe Lefebvre-Brandes, Elie Levy, Caroline Mierop and Anne Van Loo, Renovation of the Petit Château barracks, 1976

The exhibition offers, on the one hand, a sample of the treasures contained in both the Archives d’Architecture Moderne and the Sint-Lukasarchief: hundreds of original plans; alternative proposals for neighbourhoods, streets, and buildings; protest posters; models; manifestos, etc. At the same time, visual archives immerse you in the spirit of those times. Television reports and documentaries from the 1960s and 1970s give a voice to the people of Brussels. Visitors young and old get to see the Brussels of the past and the impact that a changed ‘vision’ of the city has had on its inhabitants. “Save | Change the City” shows a Brussels that used to exist... but is no longer there. A Brussels that, here and there, it proved possible to save. And a Brussels that could have been.

Poster of the 9th urban school organized by the ARAU in March 1978

until 24 september 2017
Save | Change the city
curated by Jos Vandenbreeden, Yaron Pesztat, and Maurice Culot
CIVA
Kluisstraat 55, Brussels

Save | Change the City

The exhibition “Save | Change the City”, at the CIVA foundation in Brussels, explores the alternatives proposed in the 1950s and 1960s in order to achieve a liveable city.

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