Iris Noir Bruxelles
the website of the Brussels crime-fiction fair, 2026 programme at Be-Here, 39 authors, a 23-product shop, press, moved off WordPress.
The product
A crime-fiction fair that no longer needs WordPress.
- Role
- Redesign & development
- Stack
- React · JSON content · lightweight PHP API
- Status
- In development
The website of the Brussels crime-fiction fair, 2026 programme at Be-Here, 39 authors, a 23-product shop, press, moved off WordPress.
Complete redesign of the website of the Iris Noir non-profit, the Brussels crime-fiction fair (8th edition, 30 October to 1 November 2026 at Be-Here): 39 guest authors, schedule, godmother and godfathers, literary prizes, press review, 23-product shop with cart and email ordering, contact form. Content migrated from the old WordPress through its API, classic shared hosting.
01The problem
A heavy, costly WordPress site for a volunteer-run non-profit.
The Iris Noir fair changes venue, authors and programme every year. Every change went through a contractor, paid plugins for the shop and donations, and hosting that needed watching.
The non-profit wanted a site it understands, fast, that can evolve without breaking.
02What I built
A static site, a tiny API, and all the content carried over.
2026 programme at Be-Here, 39 authors with schedules, godmother and godfathers, literary prizes, press review, 23-product shop with cart and email ordering, contact form: all the old WordPress content was retrieved through its API and converted to JSON files.
Orders and contacts go through a small PHP API with an in-house SMTP client, because the host blocks standard sending. Automated deployment, verified file by file.
03Where it stands
Tested online, domain switch in progress.
The complete site runs on the client's hosting, awaiting the final switch of the irisnoirbxl.com domain by its manager.
Next steps: online payment for the shop and memberships, then WordPress switched off for good.