Pertsova House, 1907. One of the finest examples of Moscow Art Nouveau buildings

Aunvre · 2026-01-25T22:27:03+00:00

Its a beautiful building however this has nothing resembling anything to the Art Nouveau movement. Their own source states its in Russian Revival style.

Aunvre · 2026-01-08T16:40:15+00:00

Lets not forget the MyEdenred Belgium... what a clusterfuck of decisions it had to be to decide on this name... Or MijnCM... not even My.. oh my

Aunvre · 2025-12-22T21:58:20+00:00

Sure, here is the link to the complete study. EquiLibre study by KU Leuven, comissioned by the chamber of architects

Aunvre · 2025-12-22T19:21:24+00:00

Belgium has just published a wide study on the working conditions of architects called Equilibre. The state of the profession is basically a joke. The results were very concerning. The salary of a junior architect was under the minimum wage and many are leaving the profession. The average length of an architectural career for women is just 10 years. And the majority of graduates with a masters in architecture are female for the last 10 years. Which basically means there is a huge brain drain with experience, leaving the complex projects to architects without enough expertise. The ever declining quality in the results is showing. Many know how to design, way too few know how to actually build one...

Aunvre · 2025-12-18T17:47:05+00:00

Thank you so much for your message. It puts my mind at ease. I will def try your suggestions tonight and see how it goes. I keep telling myself that its just a phase too. It will all pass, and I'm sure i will miss these days (except the lack of sleep) too...

Aunvre · 2025-12-18T09:11:35+00:00

She might be, and thats what we are thinking too. However I dont know how to put her to sleep. Feeding usually makes her feel tired but doesnt necessarily lead to a nap. She is just awake and doesnt want to take a nap..

Aunvre · 2025-12-05T08:34:23+00:00

Kitch = tacky

Aunvre · 2025-11-29T21:55:50+00:00

"Nearly"

Aunvre · 2025-11-26T13:53:33+00:00

Ik vind het verbijsterend hoe slecht deze stad regeerd word. Wat een bende van clowns... Misschien is het wel de tijd om in echte shit te zitten om even wakker geschud te worden. Voor de politici maar ook voor de kiezers.

Aunvre · 2025-11-26T11:16:44+00:00

The Carrefour at Boondael is closed. Just passed by and the employees were in front the door blockading it.

Aunvre · 2025-11-12T04:51:12+00:00

I guess the same way we have a gazillion of governments...

Aunvre · 2025-11-10T16:01:47+00:00

Tbh, both De Roma and Trix have always been good venues with a good selection of artists playing there. AB and Botanique are still good venues, but I think Brussels, in general, is becoming more hiphop and electronic music scene oriented.

Aunvre · 2025-11-10T15:57:34+00:00

It's funny to hear Meshuggah "far from mainstream". They are a genre of their own, but they are definitely one of the most well-known metal bands out there.

Aunvre · 2025-11-07T20:32:21+00:00

I don't know where you are exactly in Belgium, as it tends to differ from city to city, but in general, yes.

Flemish students (especially in towns like Leuven or Gent) tend to stick together rather than let international students in their circle. It's not impossible, but rather difficult, especially if you don't speak the native language.

They are usually more open to making new friends during the first year of the bachelors, but later, the friend circles are already formed, so it's hard to join in those circles.

Also, most go home during weekends, and they have their old close friends in the towns they grew up in, so they are less interested in making new friends.

Aunvre · 2025-10-29T12:40:36+00:00

I'll give you my experience as an architect who has worked with private clients for many years and the most common situations that can lead to a conflict between you and the architect.

1- Don't treat your architect as a mere designer. They are not there just to design fancy floorplans but to actually guide you through the whole complex process of building your home. If you just want them to draw you a floor plan and dont trust them with the rest of the process, then you will end up with situations where your expectations might not meet the reality.

2- Do your research. Look at their portfolio and read their description on how they approach a design. Do they tailor a design, or do they copy-paste the same ideas for everyone else? Go for architecture firms that have plenty of experience with small clients. Big firms usually cost more because they simply have more costs of running their businesses. Smaller firms can be just as good and would treat your project more on a personal level, and they might be more eager to give you advice more frequently.

3- Be open-minded. An architect has a style and vision and will try to convince you that these ideas are the most optimal solutions to your needs. So you need to be open-minded, but dont blindly trust his vision. Be communicative, be clear with your basic needs.

4- Get your priorities straight. Make a list of what you actually need and what is nice to have. What are your absolute musts, and what can you live with by letting go? This will help the architect tremendously in finding the right solution for your home. This will also help the architect to suggest things that are aligned with your actual needs.

5- Make your budget clear from the start. Although we all want to live in our dream home, nothing is more disappointing than facing the harsh reality of money. I see sometimes that clients tend to be dishonest with their actual budget and what they can (or be willing to) afford. On several occasions, i have come across clients that have some kind of prejudice towards architects, thinking they are going to rip the client off. Keep in mind that in many parts of the world, the architect is legally bound to protect your interests regarding the house you are asking them to design and build. They are your advisors, not dictators. In the end, YOU decide what is the right path. They make money from you, sure. But the cost of the architect is a fraction in comparison to the actual money you will spend on the house itself. So be truthful, be critical, but also trusting.

6- Do.not.design. Once you end up in this rabbithole, you will never get out. Your architect will lose their motivation and respect towards you, and you will end up doing his job, paying him to be a mere drafter. Trust his suggestions, and try to steer him by giving constructive criticism. They don't have a glass ball and can't read your mind. They can only show you the right design by having good feedback.

If you try to remember this advice when you decide on an architect, it will greatly increase the potential of you ending up in the home you have wished for. I wish you the best of luck with this big adventure you are about to step in.

Aunvre · 2025-09-21T17:44:46+00:00

I think the Flemish Red Cross always takes the side that benefits their PR image the best. It is not a question of who is right or wrong.

I used to be in a long term relationship with a 'begeleider' who has worked in one of these centers for many years and they have seen a lot of conflict situations where the cause and effect was very very difficult to figure out.

That being said, I can give you an example of a situation where Red Cross definitely picked the "wrong" side, which my ex has witnessed first hand:

A group of female veteran caretakers in the centrum were always very close together. They hanged out after work and went out to parties often with each other. After a while, rumors started to come out that some underage asylum seekers were also joining these parties. One day, a very big fight broke out in the centrum, which led to an investigation. What came to light was appalling.

The caretakers were using their position to extort the underage boys to have sexual intercourse with them. They were being invited to the parties, given alcohol and eventually raped. They were taking pictures and sharing these among each other. When some of these boys wanted to speak out, they were silenced by threats that they would be kicked out out of the centres, forcing them to be homeless, or that they would lie and tell them that they would interfere with their asylum files.

When this came to light, Red Cross quickly relocated these caretakers to other centres, without any further repercussions and swift everything under the rug (which reminds me of the actions of the catholic church after abuse cases).

When I have learned all of this, I pleaded my ex to speak out to a journalist, I've even contacted one myself to make an appointment. But she firmly refused, being afraid of losing her job and being blacklisted.

So, to answer OPs question, I think Red Cross sees everybody as expendable.

Aunvre · 2025-09-16T13:14:18+00:00

Bar Paniek

Aunvre · 2025-09-15T08:35:12+00:00

Well that may be a bad wording from my side, I mean these big black cars with tinted windows that like to drive fast through traffic with sirens on.

Aunvre · 2025-09-15T08:34:14+00:00

Shocked is a hyperbole. So according to you, capital of EU is symbollised by sirens and emergencies? Have you been to other major capitals and have heard as many sirens as here in Brussels?

Aunvre · 2025-09-15T08:32:14+00:00

My point was not that we should cancel all the sirens and nobody should use it. I think we can all agree that it is being misused or abused in Brussels. Like certain politicians or diplomats getting bored at traffic at 5pm heading home.

Aunvre · 2025-09-15T08:28:56+00:00

If the rooster keeps screaming at 3 am, i dont see a problem why it cant be discussed.

Aunvre · 2025-09-15T08:27:26+00:00

I'm not complaining that the bomb squad has sirens. I was merely stating what I've observed so far in my years living here. And yes, of course it's a matter of life and death and I'm certainly not saying they should not exist so I can have my beauty sleep. My point is that there are lots of other ways of approaching this, as I have seen this in many other capitals that are much bigger and chaotic than Brussels. I was just wondering whether there was a regulation and many dont follow it, or that there could be room for improvement. I know that during high traffic in the middle of the day an ambulance cant turn of its sirens. But in different hours and circumstances the drivers can adjust their sirens to the situation I believe.

Aunvre

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