A conference in Luxembourg on the KANAL project – Centre Pompidou

On 15 April 2026, the LUCA – Luxembourg Center for Architecture will host a lecture dedicated to the transformation of KANAL – Centre Pompidou, one of the most ambitious cultural and urban projects currently underway in Brussels.

Entitled “KANAL – Centre Pompidou. From Cars to Culture,” the event will explore the metamorphosis of a former automobile factory into a major cultural facility set to become one of Europe’s leading artistic institutions.

From industrial factory to cultural institution

Located in the former Citroën garage along the Brussels canal, the KANAL – Centre Pompidou project embodies a significant transformation: the conversion of a major industrial landmark into a new civic and cultural space open to the city.

The lecture will explore the architectural, urban and collaborative dimensions of this reconversion through the perspectives of those involved in the design and realisation of the project.

Multiple perspectives on a major urban project

The discussion will bring together several key actors involved in Brussels’ urban transformations:

• Kristiaan Borret, Bouwmeester–Maître Architecte of the Brussels-Capital Region (2015–2025)
• Philippe Viérin, architect at noAarchitecten
• Aliki Loïzidis, architect at L’Equipe Architectes

Together, they will reflect on how this project illustrates a new way of making the city, based on collaboration between institutions, architects and urban stakeholders.

Part of the exhibition “Soft Power: The Brussels Way of Making the City”

The lecture is organised within the programme of the exhibition “Soft Power: The Brussels Way of Making the City,” which explores the specific processes shaping urban development in Brussels and their influence on the city’s contemporary transformations.

Practical information

The event will take place on 15 April 2026 at 18:30 at the LUCA – Luxembourg Center for Architecture.

Participation is free upon registration, and the lecture will be held in English.