RIBA International Awards: The Royale Belge shortlisted

The RIBA International Awards for Excellence has unveiled the shortlist for its 2026 edition. This biennial selection brings together 52 projects across 18 countries, recognised for their ability to address major contemporary challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and social and urban transformations.

Among the shortlisted projects are four realised in Belgium, including the rehabilitation of Royale Belge in the Culture and Public Spaces category, which stands out as a significant example of the transformation of modernist heritage.

Royale Belge: a modernist icon reimagined

Located in Watermael-Boitsfort, the Royale Belge building, designed in the 1960s, is one of the most remarkable modernist ensembles in Brussels. Located in Watermael-Boitsfort, the Royale Belge building, designed in the 1960s, is a remarkable modernist landmark within the Brussels landscape. With its perfect cross-shaped plan and corten steel façade set on a fully glazed base, the building appears to float above the water, integrating harmoniously into its surrounding landscape.

The transformation project, led by Caruso St John Architects in collaboration with Bovenbouw Architectuur and DDS+, proposes an ambitious adaptive reuse of this former corporate headquarters.

The intervention converts the building into a multi-use destination accommodating offices, public spaces, meeting places and cultural activities, while preserving the architectural and spatial qualities that define the building’s identity.

The winners of the RIBA International Awards for Excellence 2026 will be announced on 11 June 2026. The full shortlist is available via the following link.