Urban Strategy

from Leisure Water Uses As Urban Commons : A Play Element in Metropolitan Brussels

VII - Conclusion

URBAN STRATEGY : WATERPLAY NETWORK

As a conclusion, an overlay of all key infrastructures on the same maps helps create connections between them. The absence of certain elements also questions potentialities of projects.

[Pentagon]As first stand point, the resolution area, will be mainly focusing on the historical centre of Brussels, bordered by the pentagon. This area is of greater interest due it’s density and reduced amount of public and common spaces.

[Lack of Playspace] The evident lack of Playspace within the hypercentre’s borders is arising a potential of projection. The only 4 playgrounds are definitely not enough for the density of population welcomed by the city centre.

[Lack of Waterspace] The only water presence in the centre is featured by fountain elements and the underground and hidden river Senne / Zenne.

[Heat Response] The pentagon is also, as shown on the heat islands maps, the most concerning. For this reason also, the pentagon will be framing the potential sites.

[A network of WaterPlay] It is envisioned that to solve the problems linked to lack of qualitative public spaces, lack of Playspaces and lack of Waterspaces in the pentagon, a network of new Play and Water spaces should be introduced. This network could profit from some already existing infrastructures. It is a selection of prospective and existing WaterPlay elements. Some of those are illustrated on the next page.

[Site election]As a starting point of the network, and compared to the already existing infrastructure locations, the Administrative Centre was chosen as the elected site. Other factors such as dimension, complexity and monofunctionality influnced the choice.