Notes de la rédaction
This is the press release related to the article from Benoît Moritz, published on June 21, 2011. Read the article.
In the area of urbanism, the creation of the Brussels-Capital Region (1989) was characterised by the transition from an old regime, whereby the federal state imposed a functionalist vision of the city based on the predominance of transport infrastructures, to a new regime, marked by ideas of improvement as well as the development and distribution of public space. With the Region, a new generation of urban planners, architects and sociologists came to the fore and reconsidered the development of public spaces.
However, the questions regarding the development of public spaces did not come to an end for all that. Only the first step had been accomplished, taking the form of resolutely minimalist urban development. In such a context, the question of architectural ambition was sure to re-emerge quickly, in particular in the framework of major emblematic projects such as the redevelopment of Place Flagey. Two opposing visions therefore emerged in the debate: a minimalist vision and another which demanded a strong architectural presence within public space.
The emergence and coexistence of these two models are described by Benoît Moritz (ULB Faculty of Architecture, La Cambre-Horta) in the last issue of Brussels Studies. He relates the evolution of architectural concepts, as well as the emergence of stakeholders who were determined to seize control of urbanistic management in Brussels.
But are we witnessing an enthusiastic mobilisation in terms of large-scale projects which are likely to have an impact on the city as a whole?
References
Moritz, Benoît, “Designing and developing public spaces in Brussels”, Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, No 50, 21 June 2011. URL: https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1040
Contact
Benjamin Wayens, Senior Editor: bwayens[at]brusselsstudies.be