Contribution by Stephane Damsin to the book.

Olivier Bastin is the first head architect for the Brussels-Capital Region. His term in office started in 2009. After five year, he is presenting a journal of his work. Rather than a final report, it reads like the travel logs of a pioneer. It tells the story of the route he took to give the institution of the Bouwmeester, Maître architecte (bMa), a place of its own in Brussels. The book and the identically named exhibition in the former building of the Generale Bank (the current headquarters of BNP Paribas Fortis) at Monts des Arts in Brussels fit in a long series of activities and initiatives undertaken by the head architect and his team over the past five years. The book and the accompanying exhibition look back on the road thus travelled, but also look to the future and formulate the questions that pop up on the horizon. They continue the discussion about building, architectural quality, and the culture of architecture in Brussels. After five years of having a head architect for the Brussels-Capital Region, this discussion is more relevant than ever.