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Published on 22/07/2026

Ouest : A Latin American tour for "Urban Legend"

Ouest en Amérique latine
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From October 2026, Urban Legend, the exhibition dedicated to the Brussels-based practice Ouest, embarks on an international tour. Its first stop will be the 20th Buenos Aires International Architecture Biennial, followed by a programme of lectures, professional exchanges and academic collaborations in Uruguay and Chile.

Conceived by A+ Architecture in Belgium in partnership with Bozar, with the support of the Architecture Unit of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and Wallonie-Bruxelles Architectures (WBA), Urban Legend is the fifth exhibition in the monographic series devoted to contemporary Belgian architectural practices.

Argentina | Opening at the Buenos Aires Biennial

From 2 October to 8 November 2026, Urban Legend will be presented at MARQ – Museo de Arquitectura as part of the 20th Buenos Aires International Architecture Biennial.

Through five built and ongoing projects, the exhibition highlights Ouest's approach to the city as a living organism where architecture, culture and society intersect. It offers a reflection on contemporary urban transformation and on the architect's role as both an agent of change and a storyteller.

As part of International Week, Stéphane Damsin will give a lecture on 9 October at 10 am at the MARQ Museum. Belgian architect of Argentine origin Jorge Slautsky will also contribute to the programme with a lecture on 8 October.

Alongside the exhibition, WBA and the Wallonia-Brussels Representation in Chile will organise a series of professional events with local architectural stakeholders, including a reception at the Residence of Belgium and a programme of professional visits.

The simultaneous presentation of the EUmies Awards 2026 travelling exhibition will further enhance the international visibility of projects from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles recognised at the European level.

Uruguay | A lecture in Montevideo

On 13 October, the tour will also stop at the University of Montevideo, where Stéphane Damsin will give a lecture on the Urban Legend publication and the work of the Ouest architecture office. 

Building on the discussions initiated in Buenos Aires, the event will bring together practitioners, academics and students around current questions in architectural practice.

Chile | Building lasting collaborations

The mission will then continue in Chile, in collaboration with Wallonie-Bruxelles International and the Wallonia-Brussels Representation in Chile, with the aim of strengthening academic and professional partnerships in preparation for the 2027 Chilean Architecture Biennial.

A series of lectures and presentations of the Urban Legend publication will be organised at universities in Santiago and Valparaíso. A workshop led by Stéphane Kervyn (University of Liège) and Stéphane Damsin will also bring together around 160 students from the Universidad Diego Portales to explore contemporary issues of renovation and sustainability.

  • Urbanisme Université du Chili FAU
  • Jeudi 22 octobre,14h30 - 18h45 : Session 3 workshop UDP
  • Thursday 15 October, 2:30–6:45 pm: Workshop – Session 1, Diego Portales University (UDP)
  • Friday 16 October, 12:30 pm: Ouest lecture, Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso
  • Monday 19 October, 8:30 am–12:50 pm: Workshop – Session 2, Diego Portales University (UDP)
  • Monday 19 October, 2:30–4:00 pm: Ouest lecture, Diego Portales University (UDP)
  • Tuesday 20 October, 11:00 am: Lecture and book presentation, Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA)
  • Wednesday 21 October, 3:00 pm: Lecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Chile (FAU)
  • Thursday 22 October, 2:30–6:45 pm: Workshop – Session 3, Diego Portales University (UDP)

This programme builds on relationships established with the Chilean architectural scene by photographer Maxime Delvaux, who was invited to the Santiago Biennial in 2025.

 

By bringing together an exhibition, lectures, professional meetings and academic partnerships, this multi-country Latin American tour reflects the shared strategy developed by Wallonie-Bruxelles Architectures, Wallonie-Bruxelles International and their partners to strengthen the international presence of architecture from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles within Latin American networks and foster long-term international collaborations.