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September 2024
Brussels 6th edition

Matrimony : Tangible or intangible good of artistic or historical importance inherited from women

About

© Louis Van Ginneken

Who are we ?

The Heritage Days have been in place for decades as the Journées du Patrimoine in French (Patrimoine: male-gendered term for “heritage”), yet Belgium lacked the women-centered Journées du Matrimoine (Matrimony Days). The latter came to be in Paris as soon as 2015, then spread throughout France… and reached Brussels in 2019.

On the initiative of the non-profit organisation L’architecture qui dégenre, will take place in Brussels on 27, 28 & 29 September 2024. The Matrimony Season lasts from November 2023 to June 2024 and includes about thirty activities throughout the year, generally on Sundays at 14:00.

Team

  • Apolline Vranken – Organization & programing

Apolline Vranken’s engagement with the ULB Feminist Circle started as early as 2014. Issues such as gender, space and urban equality fascinate her. She investigated these topics in her master thesis “Des béguinages à l’architecture féministe” (Université des Femmes, 2018). She obtained her master’s degree in architecture in 2017. Then, for over two years, Apolline Vranken worked as a project manager for the non-profit organization L’Ilot – Sortir du sans-abrisme and as an architect. Today, she is an FNRS PhD candidate at the Faculty of Architecture of La Cambre-Horta ULB. She is also – in collaboration with the platform L’architecture qui dégenre – behind the Belgian edition of the Matrimony Days.

  • Rosalie Lefebvre – Organization & programing

Rosalie Lefebvre graduated from UCL in architecture in 2016. She collaborated with several architecture offices in Brussels and endeavored to take part in architecture projects with a mindset really committed to taking into consideration the societal and environmental stakes. Rosalie joined the Belgian edition of the Matrimony Days’ programing team in 2021.

  • Audrey Vanbrabant – Organization & programing

Audrey Vanbrabant obtained her degree in journalism at IHECS and has been working as a freelancer since 2017. She works with various media outlets such as Les Grenades or Axelle Magazine. Her passions are writing and reading; Audrey works to enhance the visibility of the work of women (artists) in various projects. She is also the writer of “30 des femmes qui ont marqué l’histoire de la Belgique” [English: 30 Women Who Left Their Mark on the History of Belgium] (Auzou Editions). She joined the Matrimony Days team in November 2021.

  • Camille Kervella – Curator

Camille Kervella is an architect who graduated from UCL in 2020, with a master thesis titled “Sex in the City.” She is invested in fundamental feminist and queer (LGBTQIA+) issues in erected societies. Her thesis is set in her broader questioning of norms and oppression systems that exist in architecture, especially through a queer lens.

She is currently an intern architect; her interest for feminist and queer issues is developing via her activism and personal research. She is open about her identity as a queer woman and engaged for her rights. She wants to share a vision of our spaces, both private and public, both intimate and collective, that redefines the traditional narrative.

  • Shana De Smedt & Olivia Isbendjian – Communication
  • Chiara Tomalino – Feminist Guided Tours
  • Esther Le Roy & Sarah Cleeremans – Matrimony Season Graphism
  • Victoria Depré – Catering & Vegetarian recipes
  • Joséphine Devillers, Lisa Lince & Aline Pauwels – Photography
  • Diana Vos – Videos

Advisory Committee

  • Anissa Ayadi
  • Mekdes Bonfanti
  • Mélanie Cao
  • Célia Charkaoui-Sédille
  • Guy Conde-Reis
  • Marian Lens
  • Chloé Salembier
  • Lyse Vancampenhoudt
  • Vanessa Vovor

Former collaborators

If you feel your name is missing in this list, please send us an e-mail

  • Marie Aynaud – Photography (2021)
  • Carla Caucotto – Internship (2021-2022)
  • Flore Fockedey – Textiles (2019-2020)
  • Olivia Isbendjian – Communication (2021-2022)
  • Valentine Jamis – Photography (2021)
  • Anaïs Pereira – Organization & Programing (2020-2021)
  • Nhu Sao Truong – Web Design (2019-2020)
  • Ellen Van Huffel – Matrimony Days Graphism (2019-2021)
  • Svetlana Tusek – Reception (2021-2022)
  • Lyse Vancampenhoudt – Feminist Guided Tours (2021-2022)
  • Leo Vander Wielen – Communication (2020)
  • Louis Van Ginneken – Photography (2019)
  • Paul-Jean Vranken – Video (2019-2020)
  • Géraldine, Lara, Déborah, Eléonore, Khaoula, Susan, Marie, Alexia, Léa, Inês, Alice, Noémie, Juliette, Alexandra, Muriel, Paul-Jean, Margaux, Thomas, Amos, Louis – Volunteers (2019-2020-2021)

L’architecture qui dégenre is a not-for-profit association. If you wish to support our project, you may make a donation to the following account: BE52 5230 8132 7909. Thank you for your precious support.

Goals

On the one hand, Matrimony Days honor the historical-architectural, sculptural, urban and social heritage of Brussels. On the other hand, it is also a great opportunity to discover the current artistic, political and feminist heritage.

In addition to a journey of discovery through marriage in Brussels that is sometimes and even often overlooked, the fundamental question of women’s property rights and related trades is also addressed, during workshops with experts and guided tours by grassroots women. Thanks to the program, you will thus be able to get an idea of ​​the participation of women* and gender minorities in the various professions related to matrimony.

In order to be able to expand our range of activities, there has also been an annual program since 2021: the Season of Matrimony Days, with more than thirty additional activities for the people of Brussels. On the program: guided tours, workshops, exhibitions, screenings and even more activities to discover our marital heritage. Purpose: to contribute permanently to public awareness and information on matrimonial property.

Activities & Tools

Looking for an activity for your association and your team?

L’architecture qui dégenre offers guided tours in several formats, adapted to your wishes and needs. For any request and/or question, please send us an email to:

info@matrimonydays.be


Looking for advice to think equality in the public space/your workspace/your living environment?

L’architecture qui dégenre’s expertise has been growing since 2016; we can help you design and build your projects. Please address your questions to:

info@matrimonydays.be

Publications

Des béguinages à l’architecture féministe. Comment interroger et subvertir les rapports de genre matérialisés dans l’habitat ?, Université des Femmes, Bruxelles, 2018. Thesis under the supervision of Christine Schaut

  • First Mention of the Jury Dissertation Prize of the Faculty of Architecture (ULB)
  • First Prize of the Université des Femmes for a thesis in the field of feminist studies

« Simone Kroll », The Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, Brown Lori et Burns Karen (éd.), Bloomsbury, London, 2021.

« Tussen Ruimte », The Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, Brown Lori et Burns Karen (éd.), Bloomsbury, London, 2021.

« Arsenal, du hall industriel à la rue conviviale », ACROSS – 8 OFFICES, 8 OBJECTS, 8 PROJECTS, Le Grelle Roxane (éd.), BOZAR, A+, VAi, Faculté d’Architecture ULiège, Brussels, 2018, 74-75.

« Des béguinages à l’architecture féministe », Chronique féministe, 2018, n°122, 43-44.

« De l’importance du chemin » (in collaboration with Lisa De Visscher), A+, 2018, n°275, 49-51.

« Autorité et autodérision », A+, 2018, n°272, 30-32.

« Un scophile inavoué », A+, 2018, n°272, 90-91.

« House O », A+, 2018, n°272, 92.

« Lolo Ferrari », A+, 2018, n°272, 93.

L'architecture qui dégenre
Université Libre de Belgique
La Ville de Bruxelles
Urban.Brussels
Equal.Brussels
Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
Cellule architecture
Commission Communautaire française
Visit.brussels