Urban has developed the Public Spaces Manual, in cooperation with the joint venture between ORG Urbanism & Architecture and the Bureau Bas Smets, as well as all the players involved*.
This evolving document incorporates the various guides, standards, plans and tools that define the regional objectives with regard to the development of public spaces. It is a practical tool, which incorporates all these principles and aims to provide practical assistance in the design of generic public spaces.
The role of the manual is therefore to offer project developers the key information they need to design their developments with a high level of ambition in relation to all the issues to be taken into account for public spaces. To achieve this, the manual offers a design project process with exemplary model solutions and implementation tools.
Urban has developed this tool as part of its urban strategy, Urban being directly involved in the ambition to turn Brussels into a sustainable and resilient city. One of its main concerns is to continue the urban development of the region by enhancing the attractiveness of the city and the quality of life in Brussels.
In this context, Urban gives priority to a policy that actively promotes a high quality urban development, quiet and peaceful public spaces and, in a broader perspective, the rehabilitation of the existing urban tissue. This objective is in line not only with the current context of ecological, climatic and environmental transition, but also with the more recent context of dealing with the pandemic and the need to free up space this implies in the short, medium and long term.
→ As a key player in urban development, Urban is fully committed to supporting projects that improve the Brussels-Capital Region’s quality of life. This manual, which is the result of a collective effort, embodies this commitment to sustainable development in response to contemporary challenges.
THE BOOKLETS THAT MAKE UP THE MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
Why is a manual for public spaces in the Brussels Capital Region needed?
AMBITIONS
What cross-cutting ambitions apply to all of Brussels’ public spaces?
Objective: to find out about the general ambitions for the various public spaces in the Brussel-Capital Region.
FILTERS
What specific local characteristics should be taken into account?
Objective: checking each of the filters to find out about the specific features of the public space concerned and the tools linked to the filter, which can be consulted in the “Toolbox” booklet.
TERRITORIAL VISION
What are the main planning guidelines?
Objective: consulting the vision map applied to the region, which illustrates the spread of the programmes defined by the manual: there are six in all. For every public space, a programme clarifies a vision for the future and suggests specific development guidelines.
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
How is the vision applied?
Objective: consulting the suggested development strategies according to the type of public space and its programme. For each type and each programme, a typical solution and a case study are illustrated.
TOOLBOX
What tools should be used?
Objective: using the tools to learn about both the approach and the process to be followed, as well as the practical tools that should be used.
EXISTING TYPOLOGIES
What is the current state of public spaces in Brussels?
Objective: finding out the type of public space concerned.
APPENDIX
→ Skim through the appendix (fr)THE MAPS OF THE MANUAL ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON BRUGIS
To complete this tool and to make it even more interactive, all of the maps included in the manual have been integrated into the BruGIS platform.
There, you can consult the latest updated versions of existing typologies, filters or territorial vision, and you can easily navigate between the different maps, superimpose them or enlarge them.
SUGGESTIONS?
This document is deliberately only available digitally, as it is intended to be a living document: its contents will be periodically updated based on developments in the various useful standards and guidelines in the fields of town planning and land use planning in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Moreover, in the coming months, you will have the chance to discover and try out the document and to give us your feedback on the user experience. We therefore invite you to send your feedback and suggestions by e-mail to the address below.
* PARTNERS
With the expertise of:
The joint venture between ORG Urbanism & Architecture and the Bureau Bas Smets, as well as Traject, Plant en Houtgoed, Rotor, Common Ground and L’architecture qui dégenre
And with the collaboration of:
AccessAndGo, BMA, Brulocalis, Brussels Environment, Brussels Mobility, the Brussels police, Bruxelles Propreté/Net Brussel, CAWab, the city of Brussels, CRMS, De Lijn, equal.brussels, Garance, GRACQ, the municipality of Anderlecht, the municipality of Etterbeek, the municipality of Forest, the municipality of Ganshoren, the municipality of Ixelles, the municipality of Schaerbeek, the municipality of Saint-Gilles, the municipality of Uccle, the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, parking.brussels, perspective.brussels, safe.brussels, SIAMU/DBDMH, STIB/MIVB, Suède 36, ULB, VUB Mobilise, walk.brussels
