MAIB34_2021_3_OpenSpaces

OPEN SPACES

City, citizens and space Group 3

Empirical walks in Schaerbeek

Yousuf Al Ansari Sena Balci Madeleine Debaere Marion Lust Willocx Viktorija Trajcheska

Open Spaces

City Citizens & Space

Yousuf Sena Madeleine Viktorija Marion

Al Ansari Balci Debaere Trajcheska Lust Willocx

KULeuven . 2020-2021 1

36

Personal experienced walk

Yousuf

Madeleine

Marion

Viktorija

Sena

Small groups experienced walk

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 2

Interviews

KULeuven . 2020-2021 3

Observations & Research We categorised the 5 zones of Schaerbeek after our observations during the walks and by talking with the local community into those 6 typologies. Namely; sidewalks, squares, parks, parkings, playgrounds and balconies.

We observed the effect of the trainrail at the West side of the station where the presence of designed and open green spaces is higher than at the East side of it where the open spaces are often occupied by different groups that dominate the area.

At the East side we can notice a lack of green spaces, the use of the sidewalks is different and we also observed different types of balconies, which are the typical ones, sculpted, roof terraces and a new « modern» typology.

Most of them are really small and not used or only for trash.

For the squares we observed different uses of it; as meeting points, mobility hubs and urban leftovers.

By interviewing people we realised that many of them don’t like their kids to use the existing parks but rather prefer their kids to play within eye distance by using the sidewalks. Also there, different types of uses can be noticed; for the formal and informal economy, as a playing zone, a gathering point and a prostitution encounter.

For the category of the green spaces we realized that most of the nature was present inside the urban blocks, unreachable for the public and only accessible by the private tenant.

Conclusion One can notice a pattern in how “open spaces” are used as a reactionary tool to a multitude of external factors, whether be it social, political, economical or cultural.

However, there is a kind of ordered chaos. But then, when the question of the nature of space arises, then the question of if it’s open or closed makes sense. Why does it appear to be open to only certain kind of individuals, genders, identities while close to others. The question may sound rhetorical, but it does need to be dealt with.

There is nothing stopping them from using it, there isn’t a sign saying that a certain individual is allowed or not, but instead the atmosphere the “open space” inhabits is one of the main whys and wherefores.

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 4

KULeuven . 2020-2021 5

Conclusion

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 6

From Abandoned To Collective

KULeuven / Campus Brussels Studio Maib34 / City, Citizens & Space Jonathan Robert Maj & Christophe Polack Esma Sena BalcÄą

KULeuven . 2020-2021 7

Project Location

Corner Spaces

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 8

In-between Spaces

Keywords & Connections

This project aims to enhance the potential of the abandoned spaces inside the neighborhood. After the research process about open spaces, it was certain that there are many formal and in-formal open and ‘’public ‘’ spaces inside the Schaerbeek but they are mainly dominated by different groups but there are still some spaces which are not dominated by any group and abandoned. The potential in these zones gives the idea of ‘’ from abandoned to collective ‘’, which aims to welcome people without hesitation.

The project mainly consists of a platform on the existing abandoned corner which invites people to nature from two different axes. While ‘’ Rue de Brabant’’ which is also namely known as a shopping street connects the site to Place Lieds, Rue de Quatrecht connects the site to Gare du Nord and the more commercial side of the neighborhood.

On the ground level, the platform consists of 3 different zones. The first zone invites people to nature while also carrying public functions like the bus stop to the street level. The second zone can be count as a buffer zone in between nature and street and the third zone is the nature which is the need of the neighborhood. On the first level, the platform connects two different semi-public buildings to each other which includes a restaurant and workshop places.

KULeuven . 2020-2021 9

Human Traffic

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 10

KULeuven . 2020-2021 11

Timetable

While there is heavy human traffic on both axes which are surrounding the project site, also diversity between people takes attention. Change in human circulation also creates a dynamic urban zone in this side of the neighborhood with its changing timetable.

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 12

Surrounding

shop

eating

eating

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

Rue de Brabant

tunnel

prostitution

eating

cafe

grocery

snack bar

night market

eating

residential

Rue de Quatrecht

Even though the two axes of the site have different characteristics, the common point of them can be count as they both carry commercial uses. While there are so many shopping places on ‘’ Rue de Brabant ‘’, ‘’Rue de Quatrecht’’ carries more diverse functions from eating to prostitution to cafes.

KULeuven . 2020-2021 13

Site Plan

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 14

Concept Strategy

How potential of the abandoned places can be preserved for the future changing scenarios of Schaerbeek ?

Collecting people from 2 axes How to reveal the strengths of inactive people of the neighborhood for a positive impact?

Convertiing abandoned places to public and semi public spaces How to increase the belongingness feeling of the community?

Creating circulation in- between

KULeuven . 2020-2021 15

Ground Level

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 16

Ground Level Zones

Pic 1 ; Street While there is heavy human circulation on street site, this platform invites people to nature but also creates an in-between space.

Pic 2 ; Buffer Zone On the buffer zone of the platform, public functions like bus stop exists which serves to street site.

Pic 3 ; Nature Main aim of the platform is to invite people to nature with its all privilege inside the city.

Pic 4 ; Connection On the first level of the platform, it connects two semi-public buildings and creates a connection between them KULeuven . 2020-2021 17

First Level

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 18

Zone1 Street

Zone 2 Bus Stop

Zone 3 Entrance to platform

Zone 4 Nature

Connecting Platform

KULeuven . 2020-2021

19

Second Level

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 20

Rue de Quatrecht

KULeuven . 2020-2021 21

Third Level

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 22

Rue de Brabant

KULeuven . 2020-2021 23

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 24

KULeuven . 2020-2021 25

Conclusion

From Abandoned to Collective Located on the intersection point of ‘’Rue de Brabant ‘’ and ‘’ Rue de Quatrecht’’, “From Abandoned to Collective ” is a project that demonstrates the possibility of abandoned spaces to replace collective hubs for the neighborhood of Schaerbeek. An opportunity to reduce the foreignness inside the community and to counter the diverse environmental impact of the Schaerbeek.

The ‘’Platform’’ become the identical elements of the project, the focus has an invite people to nature step by step, by offering a circular system which locates in-between the two buildings. With the aim of reactivating the leftover space on the corner, “From abandoned to collective” becomes a key element to create a completely new open space, a positive impact for a healthy public environment.

On the ground level, the platform consists of 3 different zones. The first zone invites people to nature while also carrying public functions like the bus stop to the street level. The second zone can be count as a buffer zone in between nature and street and the third zone is the nature which is the need of the neighborhood. On the first level, the platform connects two different semi-public buildings to each other which includes a restaurant and workshop places. ‘’ From abandoned to collective ‘’ project, stands as a optimistic vision for Schaerbeek with its potentials and adaptaiblity.

Maib34 l City, Citizens & Space 26