Brussels is facing a deepening multidimensional crisis due to stalled political negotiations and the absence of an effective government, the Order of Architects warned on Monday.
The organisation blamed political representatives for the ongoing deadlock, calling on them to act in the public interest with "conscience, reason, and courage" before it is too late.
According to the Order, the lack of governance is damaging housing, the economy, legislation, public image, and trust. It warned that Brussels "no longer has the luxury of waiting" and urged the formation of a regional government by December 2025.
The group said that the absence of an executive is eroding public confidence, as institutions lose credibility and decisions lack legitimacy.
In housing, the crisis is described as spiralling out of control, with 10.9% of Brussels residents, more than 50,000 households, currently on the waiting list for social housing.
To address this, the Order proposed a regional decree to relax housing standards, allowing the conversion of offices or disused industrial spaces into decent homes. It described the measure as essential.
The organisation also called for urgent reforms to simplify planning permissions and clarify the CoBAT and Regional Urbanism Regulation (RRU), saying the current complexity leads to contradictions and inconsistencies.
"The current stalemate is worsening the crisis," the Order concluded. "Brussels deserves better than paralysis. There is no alternative: we need a government, now."
