A Dusty Road to the Riviera?

Article for general public (2022)

Historical Voices from the Minett: A Public History Video Presentation in Esch-sur-Alzette

Scientific Conference (2021, June 17)

The Twentieth-Century Ministerial Office Building as a Laboratory of Government

in Moderne Stadtgeschichte (2021), (2), 147-166

Within the historiographical field of “political architecture”, ministerial office buildings have always been a somewhat marginal subject, undeservedly deemed of secondary importance in relation to more ... [more ▼]

Within the historiographical field of “political architecture”, ministerial office buildings have always been a somewhat marginal subject, undeservedly deemed of secondary importance in relation to more “representative” types of political buildings. Dwelling on the insights of the nineteenth-century essayist Bagehot and the office historians Duffy and Gardey, my contribution postulates that from the early twentieth century onward, ministerial office architecture has become an essential functional component of any political configuration, as well as a phenomenon defined by a complex interrelationship between physical realities and managerial norms. Even though various historiographical contributions from the last two decades have successfully scrutinised the reciprocal conceptual relations between politics and architecture in relation to ministerial offices, the huge influence of internationally circulating managerial norms such as Taylorism has strangely remained under the radar. Using the example of Belgium during the interwar period, I seek to demonstrate how such norms were strongly mobilised when new ministerial office buildings were planned, and how their propagators even considered “modern” and “efficient” office architecture to be an agent of broad social reform. With this case study, I would like to call attention to the need for a transnational comparative perspective covering the intermingled domains of politics, architecture, and management. [less ▲]

Making History Together: Public Participation in Museums

Scientific Conference (2020, December 15)

The international online symposium brought together scholars, museum professionals and heritage practitioners to discuss how participatory history is constructed, developed, and implemented in museums ... [more ▼]

The international online symposium brought together scholars, museum professionals and heritage practitioners to discuss how participatory history is constructed, developed, and implemented in museums. 'Making History Together: Public Participation in Museums' took place on 15 December 2020 and has brought together participants and case studies from all over the world. Sessions include discussions on co-creation and co-production, community of interpretation, digital public participatory practices, empowerment, and overall impact on making history in museums. [less ▲]

From Bentham to Guadet: ‘Auditory visibility’ in nineteenth-century theories on government offices

in International Journal for History, Culture and Modernity (2019), 7

Bruxelles, novembre 1918 : De la guerre à la paix ?

in Science Connection (2018)

Recensie van: Michel De Beule et al, "Bruxelles, histoire de planifier: urbanisme aux 19e et 20e siècles"

in Contemporanea (2018), (4),

Les immeubles de bureaux / De bureaugebouwen

in Pesztat, Yaron (Ed.) Blaton, une dynastie de constructeurs / Blaton, een dynastie van bouwers (2017)

De resonantie van een stille lente: Nederlandse en Vlaamse persstemmen over Rachel Carsons 'Silent Spring' (1962-1963)

in Jaarboek voor Ecologische Geschiedenis (2014)

Felbevochten vergroeningen: Het Leuvense stadsnatuurbeleid, 1918-1958

Book published by Peeters / Salsa (2012)