For several years, Urban has been organising a series of monthly conferences that bring together the public and private sectors around themes of architecture, urban renewal and cultural heritage.
These conferences, entitled “Urban Lunch”, provide an opportunity to share information, meet one another, and engage in joint discussions on architectural topics.
This time, Urban invites you to discover the “Manual of Public Spaces”, an evolving document integrating the various guides, standards, plans and tools that define the regional objectives with regard to the development of public spaces in Brussels.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
- Date: 27.05.2025
- Place: KBR Auditorium, Boulevard de l'Empereur 2, 1000 Brussels
- Reception and lunch (free): 11.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
- Conferences: 12.15 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.
SUBJECT AND PANEL
The Covid pandemic made us all aware of the importance of public spaces in cities: more than merely a matter of urban beautification, a public space should allow citizens to meet and live together in a healthy, green, and depolluted environment.
Urban therefore undertook two important initiatives in 2021: on the one hand, to raise public awareness, it dedicated its 33rd Heritage Days to Brussels' meeting places; on the other hand, for professionals in the field, it launched the ambitious project of a Manual of Public Spaces.
Following a thorough public tender procedure, the temporary partnership ORG – Bas Smets was entrusted with the implementation of this manual. Two years of work were required, including analyses, roundtable discussions, and various consultations.
The Manual was published in July 2024. Since then, Urban has been organising information and awareness sessions on the topic.
It is in this context that we are pleased to invite you to the 161st Urban Lunch, which will be specially dedicated to the Manual of Public Spaces.
On this occasion, we will also have the pleasure of welcoming Ms Ans Persoons, Secretary of State for the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urban Planning and Heritage, who will do us the honour of introducing a topic that has become one of her key priorities during her term of office.
PROGRAMME
- Introduction : Why a Manual of Public Spaces ?
→ by Sarah Lagrillière, Deputy General Manager of Urban (FR/NL) - Projects and reflections on the design of public spaces
→ by Bas Smets, landscape architect – Bureau Bas Smets (FR/NL) - The Key Principles of the Manual of Public Spaces
→ by Rime Abbad El Andaloussi, Urban Designer, and Yannick Vanhaelen, architect and urban planner – ORG Urbanism & Architecture (FR) - Implementation of the Manual of Public Spaces
→ by Gerben Kumps, engineer-architect – Urban (FR/NL)
MANUAL OF PUBLIC SPACES
Find out more about this practical tool, which aims to provide practical assistance in the design of generic public spaces in Brussels.
