Collective Spaces -SchaerbeekRethinking Parc Reine Verte
Project by: Dana Alsayegh
COLLECTIVE SPACES As defined by M. de Solà-Morales “Collective spaces are not strictly public or private, but both simultaneously [They] are public spaces that are used for private activities, or private spaces that allow for collective use, and they include the whole spectrum in between.” Source: M. de Solà-Morales, “Public and Collective Space: The Urbanisation of the Private Domain as a New Challenge”, in La Vanguardia, May 12th, Barcelona 1992, reprinted in “A Matter of Things”, Nai Publishers, Rotterdam 2008
To understand the idea of collective spaces and their different variations, we aimed to map the different possible locations/sites in Schaerbeek which could be regarded as collective spaces. Firstly, we strategically categorised the areas in scale, circulation, levels, users, temporality and intimacy, to assess their collectivity. Then we moved on to focusing on the user’s experiences and solely regarding the spaces and their degree of collectivity based on their appropriation of space.
COLLECTIVE SPACE
ALLOWS
INDIVIDUAL USAGE OF THE PUBLIC SPACE
COLLECTIVE ACTIVITY
KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture I City, Citizens and Space I Group 1 I Collective Spaces I Tutors: Christophe Polack, Jonathan Robert Maj Sally Alawady, Dana Elsayegh, Sabine Ariqat, Joyce Jamal, Ingy Saad
POSSIBLE INDOOR COLLECTIVE SPACES Buildings that allow public usage and can allow collective activity
Cultural Co-Working Transportation Community Center Market Local Cafe In The Ground Floor Social Housing
CASE STUDIES LOCATIONS
LUCA’s Courtyard Gare du Nord West Entrance
Parc Reine-Verte Rue Royale-Saint-Marie
Gare du Nord South Entrance
Rue Allard
SYNTHESIS
RESEARCH & OBSERVATIONS SCALE
CIRCULATION
LEVELS
Gare du No
rd
SCALE
CIRCULATION
LEVELS
USERS
TEMPORALITY
INTIMACY
USERS
TEMPORALITY
INTIMACY
We learn from our case studies that even though some spaces a noticed small street elements, as shown below,
are well designed they fail as a collective space, However, we , can evolve into unintended collective spaces
Rethinking Parc Reine Verte Schaerbeek Dana Alsayegh - Design Studio
a Backyard - a Frontyard
Context - Neighbourhood Visions
History
1930
1945
1980
2007
Original Plan - AR-BR, Philippe Serck Design Prioritising security and controlling measures, treating the parc in an indoor-space logic. Excessive use of thick, high walls, fences and gates. Dividing the space into parts leading to disintegrated zones. Currently the parc lies underused and few people consider it a destination.
Calm Zone
Protected Water Zone -UnďŹ nished-
Recreational Zone
Circulation - Topography
Problematic User Experience
-Lost Identity of Space -Parc mainly used as a shortcut -Isolation and disconnection from surrounding -Uninviting spaces and materials -Hidden Space -Restricting Security Walls
unused space
CIrculation path
Design Strategy
Visual Connection Neighbouring Buildings
Access to NGO Building
Orangery connecting 2 zones
Connecting to CoCof
Connecting to Surrounding
Connecting School Playground Access
Modifying Entrance
Parc Reine Verte holds a significant potential, that due to its isolation from its context is not fully explored so that now it is a redundant hidden space. The aim of this project is to take this parc to the next level of collectivity, transforming it into a frontyard for the surrounding facilities (School, CoCof, NGO building) and as a backyard for the neighbourhood that currently lacks a public space enabling citizens to enjoy collective activities, taking into consideration the neighbourhood concerns of safety and security. In order to achieve that, the parc is divided into 3 zones, each having a specific identity with a suitable program. The first zone being the Community garden and kitchen which connects the parc with the residents of the CoCof building while the existing orangery maintains its original function of preserving plants and serves as a community kitchen and restaurant. The second zone is the Prominade zone adopting a simple concept of a forest that in turn is linked to the NGO building by means of a secondary entrance; bordered by the water surface which visually connects the parc with the surrounding private backyards. The third zone is for recreational activities acting as an t adjacent school backyard and an entrance to it. extension to the This zoning provides a clear identification of place in which users are able to consciously choose their environment according to the desired experience, given that all the zones are easily linked by the existing sloped trail.
Program
Master Plan
Program Distribution
Existing Condition
Current Design
Entrance
Access to School
Recreational Zone
Recreational Zone
Link to CoCof Food Stalls & playground Zone
Prominade Zone Water Surface
Prominade Zone
Integrated furniture link to NGO building
Community Garden Zone
+45.00
+45.00
+45.00
Prominade Zone
+47.00
+45.00
+43.00
Integrated Urban Furniture
Revitalised Water Zone
Revitalising the unďŹ nished water zone, expanding water surface and introducing urban ďŹ xtures. Removing visual obstacles to the neighbouring private backyards. The trees acting as seasonal visual screens changing the shared scene between the two parts.
Food Stalls Zone
Adapting existing walls to include food and drinks stalls, a zone suitable for temporary street vendors.
Recreational Zone
Playgrounds
Rue Reine Verte Entrance
Materiality
The 3 zones of the parc are further identiďŹ ed by using different materials throughout the project. T herefore, the demolished existing massive walls are reused and mixed to form coloured terrazzo and dolomite pebbles that cover the major areas in the parc. While softer and more child friendly materials are used in the recreational zone.
Conclusion
Collective spaces are a powerful component that enhances urbanity and involves citizens with their urbanity. Parc Reine Verte is an example of how public spaces can overcome a monodimensional role and act to target multiple groups with different outlooks and activtites that are made possible in such spaces. In a rich neighbourhood of Schaerbeek that encompasses a variety of citizens from different backgrounds and age groups, this parc provides a public space interwoven into the surrounding environment where citizens can reclaim their collectivity.
City, Citizens & Space Design Studio 2020-2021