Archibelge

Synopsis

Renowned architect Renaat Braem once called Belgium the ugliest country in the world. Beauty and ugliness are relative concepts, but Belgian architecture is remarkable, to say the least. The three-part documentary series Archibelge approaches Belgian architecture and spatial planning from the perspective of the identity of Belgians themselves, specifically the way we work, live, and relax. Each of these three facets is addressed in a single episode, focusing on Brussels, the countryside, and the coast respectively. The result is a compelling and visually surprising look at Belgian architecture, with testimonies from people who have strong opinions about it, such as Eric De Kuyper, Geert Van Istendael, and Hannes Coudenys. Why does Belgium look the way it does, and what should happen now?

First Air Date: 2015-05-06

Last Air Date: 2015-05-20

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 3

Created By: Gilles Coton, Olivier Magis, Sofie Benoot

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Hannes Coudenys as Himself
Geert Van Istendael as Himself
Kris Peeters as Himself
Eric Corijn as Himself
Eric de Kuyper as Himself
Charlotte Geldof as Herself

Seasons

Season 1 (2015)

Archibelge takes an unusual look at the thought behind and the lifestyle of people living in everyday Belgian architecture. We travel through the countryside and through towns until we reach the Belgian coast in search of unusual buildings seen through the eyes of people who use them on a day-to-day basis.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Brussels in search of itself (2015-05-06)

Brussels is where Belgians work, and preferably nothing more. But the city is less soulless than it appears. Its permanent residents fight for their identity and recognition. Brussels is a city of comings and goings. It's a place where a large number of Belgians work, but usually nothing more than that. Hundreds of thousands of commuters flock there every morning, only to leave again in the evening. Brussels seems like a transit zone, its towering office buildings contributing to the identity of an ugly, deserted city.
Ep. 2: National Route (2015-05-13)

The rural highway is where Belgians live and do their own thing. Haciendas and farmhouses stand lovingly side by side. But Belgians prefer to build at the back, where outbuildings form a surreal and disorderly whole. In this second episode, we travel along the typical Belgian highways, past ribbon development and outbuildings. This trip reveals the idiosyncratic housing desires of Belgians and shows us where the "brick" in our stomachs comes from.
Ep. 3: Archibelge - With Sea View (2015-05-20)

The coast is where Belgians relax. It's one long city, 65 kilometers long and often only 100 meters wide. An Atlantic Wall, where every temporary resident claims a piece of the sea view for themselves. The quest for a sea view has led to an endless coming and going of buildings along our coastline. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, buildings and apartment blocks shoot up, only to disappear again after a while, making way for even taller ones.