Round table - BC studies x Dark Matter Labs x Civic Square x Bouwmeester Maitre Architecte

We’ve got visitors!

A delegation of around 50 people from the Civic Square ecosystem,including Material Cultures, Architecture 00, and Dark Matter Labs, is visiting Brussels. For the occasion, we are hosting a round table on Monday, October 5th, to explore the impact of initiatives like Civic Square and Stadsatelierdeville on the transformation of European cities. Lisa De Visscher, the Bouwmeester Maître Architecte (BMA), will also join the discussion to share her vision on the topic.

THE CONTEXT
How do grassroots projects evolve into permanent places of learning and exchange? This discussion will explore how such initiatives shift the relationships between urban actors and foster new forms of participation and governance.

The panel will address how we can move from isolated experimentation to structural changes within urban systems. Together, we will examine the concrete conditions needed for these new practices to emerge and discuss what elements can truly be replicated beyond a specific, local project.

WHO IS AT THE TABLE?
Civic Square: A neighborhood economics lab and community organization based in Birmingham (UK) focused on building civic infrastructure for ecological and social transitions.

Dark Matter Labs: An international field laboratory focused on redesigning the institutional "dark matter", such as regulations, contracts, and bureaucracy, needed for systemic global change.

Lisa De Visscher (BMA): The Bouwmeester Maître Architecte (Chief Architect) of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for guiding architectural quality and urban coherence across the city.

Stadsatelierdeville: The Brussels-based hub and living lab, serving as a platform for urban material experimentation and circular production.