On 17 May 2017, nine architectural projects were honored at the first European Architecture Awards. This ceremony, organized on the last day of Realty, the real estate event for professionals, crowned four Belgian architects.
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This "Oscars of architecture" ceremony was the initiative of Archi-Europe, the largest European architecture federation, and REALTY, the trade fair for property sector professionals. The jury of architects and experts awarded prizes to eight of the 327 projects from 32 countries; four of these eight were by Belgian firms.
Through these awards, the event wished to reward the best European architects for projects ranging from commercial property and the healthcare sector to urban development. The Belgian architects distinguished themselves with four awards.
First, the Brussels office JDS Architects, together with its Danish partners, won in the category "Urban Development". The jury of European architects and industry experts welcomed their new project Faaborg Harbor Bath, a new seaside resort in Denmark. Then, the Ghent architectural firm Coussée & Goris won the first place in the category "Industry" for the development of the Hofheide Crematorium in Holsbeek. In the category "City Housing Development", Philippe Samyn and Partners was awarded a prize for its project to renovate 150 social housing units in Brussels. Finally, a "special jury prize" was awarded to the Antwerp office Veelaert Architecten for its Annonciaden project, a complex of service residences, nursery, shops and offices.
