1. Against the current
Brussels’ canal quarter as the new city centre
MyCanal.be

2. Observa(ons Tegen de stroom in
City centre moving towards the Canal
No masterplan for the canal
No waterfront in Brussels
Challenges
To work
To live
To meet
To move
Concre(sa(on of our vision
Five urban projects along the Canal
MyCanal.be

3. Observa(on 1: Canal as city center
Tegen de stroom in
Brussels’ city centre is moving towards the Canal
se;lement of crea(ve industry
urban renewal
Half of Brussels’ ci(zens live at only 2 km from the Canal:
Popula(on up to 20.000 people per km2
 Former secretary of state Schouppe: “weinig dichtbevolkte kanaalzone”
MyCanal.be

4. Observa(on 2: No masterplan
No masterplan or city planning leads to chao(c development
Specula(on by private investors

5. Observa(on 3: Canal is a fron(er / border / wall
Canal has few public open space
Canal doesn’t connect different communi(es and quarters
LiAle Morocco and bobo Dansaert
Laken and Schaarbeek
Canal has the poten(al as mee(ng spot
MyCanal.be

6. Observa(ons Tegen de stroom in
City centre moving towards the Canal
No masterplan for the canal
No waterfront in Brussels
Challenges
To work
To live
To meet
To move
Concre(sa(on of our vision
Five urban projects along the Canal
MyCanal.be

7. Economy: Logis(cs
‐ very low job crea(on per m2
economic value calculated by the lengths of the quays
second hand car industrie, junkyard, TIR Warehouse…
‐ 78% of all industrie along the Canal does not use the water
‐ Logis(cs in the middle of living quarters, no urban compa(bility
‐ Port of Brussels and minister Grouwels: “No marina, but cargo port”

8. OSAL Economy: Invest in new industries
P ROP
‐ Economic value should be calculated by the number of workers
‐ Reallocate heavy industrie and logis(cs to the extremi(es of Brussels
‐ Favour the link with the water
‐ Invest in crea(ve and high‐tech industries as well as urban economy
MyCanal.be

9. Housing: Overcrowded & underequiped
‐ Fragmented chaos of overcrowded districts and high vacancy rates
‐ No link with the Canal
‐ Danger of social displacement (gentrifica(on) and no social mix
=> Vision integra(ng demographic boom, social mix and quality housing
MyCanal.be

10. Mee(ng place: Canal doesn’t connect
‐ Socially and culturally two seperated worlds
‐ Poorly designed public space, no mee(ng spot
‐ Cultural and touris(cal interes(ng spot not valorised
‐ Green city not present in the densely populated districts along the Canal
MyCanal.be

11. OSAL
PROP Mee(ng place: Green connec(on of districts
‐ Public space redesigned as to invite for encouter
‐ Strengthened a;rac(ons and a cultural landmark for the Canal
‐ Lobcity: a green‐blue link through the city with access to the districts
‐ Public space = Recrea(on area (e.g. public open air swimming pool)
MyCanal.be

12. Mobility: Parking with a view?!
‐ Crossing the Canal = traffic jam
‐ Very difficult for bikers, pedestrians, public transport to cross the Canal
‐ Impossible to move along Brussels’ river from Anderlecht to Schaarbeek
‐ Two river banks not linked properly
MyCanal.be

13. OSAL
PROP Mobility: Rethinking urban mobility
‐ More bridges for pedestrians and bikers
‐ Reorganising exis(ng crossings as public mee(ng spaces
Bridges Vandevelde, Ninove, Van Praet
‐ Moving along the canal for pedestrians, bikers and public transport
‐ Discouraging car use and parking along the Canal
MyCanal.be

14. Observa(ons Tegen de stroom in
City centre moving towards the Canal
No masterplan for the canal
No waterfront in Brussels
Challenges
To work
To live
To meet
To move
Concre(sa(on of our vision
Five urban projects along the Canal
MyCanal.be

15. ‐ Retain exis(ng projects and development
‐ Protest against non‐urban projects
Uplace, Just Under The Sky, Shell‐site, widening ring…
‐ Proposing 5 ideas in 5 areas along the Canal
‐ Introducing 10 waterfront principles
MyCanal.be

16. Sta(on area and Logis(cs Port
MyCanal.be

17. Urban park
MyCanal.be

18. Start a ripple, watch it grow

19. A new urban dynamic
MyCanal.be

20. More jobs
MyCanal.be

21. Waterfront principles
Create a waterfront for everyone
Live on the river banks in a social mix
Set up a policy for decent and affordable housing
Embrace the different idenRRes and cultures as a trump for Brussels
Connect the densely populated with eachother
Garranty sustainable jobs in an urban economy
AAract creaRve entrepreneurs and innovaRve industries
Improve mobility of pedestrians, bikers and public transport
Develop urban logisRc faciliRes with waterway access
PrioriRze public space with an ambiRous architecture
MyCanal.be