Defining public spaces in Saint-Lazare

Commune de St-Josse / Région Bruxelloise
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The main aim was to re-engender a sense of neighbourhood in an area divided by road and train routes.

In 2010 Suède 36 was given the lead in a study to define public spaces around the Boulevard St-Lazare, financed by the Méridien de Bruxelles neighbourhood contract. The aim was to coordinate three public redevelopment projects that were going on side by side. Suède 36 also proposed setting up a single architecture market.

In 2011 an international competition was launched based on a definition study and a parallel mobility study covering the quartier Nord area. The advisory committee was chaired by the master architect and included a large panel of actors and experts. They chose the team made up of the following agencies: Bas Smets / Jean-Pierre Charbonneau / Greisch / Bouwtechniek.

In November 2012 there was a series of events to ‘hear what residents had to say’ at the TAG gallery under the Rogier passageway in St-Josse. Working together with Flore Grassiot (TOPOI collective), Suède36 listened to the opinions of many people including residents, users, traders, office-workers and prospective premise managers. The aim here was to look for new ideas and invite criticism of the winning draft project.

Suède 36 also worked on building a sample public space as per the project’s design, as well as on an exhibition explaining to users the processes used and choices made.