De la brique au PVC. Étude de la matérialité du bâti résidentiel bruxellois (1975-2000)

For its 2024 cultural programme, Urban.brussels has chosen materiality as its central theme. Against the backdrop of pressing societal challenges—including climate change, health concerns, and shifting socio-economic conditions—Urban.brussels aims to foreground the material dimension of the city and the many technical, cultural, and social processes that shape how the built environment is made, used, and perceived.

Placing materiality at the centre also offers a powerful way to bring heritage and architecture into closer dialogue. By better understanding materials—their presence, properties, histories, and meanings—we can open up new interpretations of heritage values, improve the preservation of the existing urban fabric, and unlock more thoughtful and diverse futures for the materials that surround us.

This article examines a selection of common, often invisible and undervalued materials used in residential construction in Brussels between 1975 and 2000. By focusing on these frequently overlooked components, we highlight why materiality is essential for developing a more nuanced, integrated appreciation of the city’s recent architectural heritage.