type
Programming
Context
The Midi district has undergone several phases of transformation over the last century, shifting from a terminus station to a through-station model. These changes have given rise to significant urban planning challenges, particularly regarding the relationship between the Midi station and the city. The "quadrilatères" are the vast, underutilized spaces located beneath the tracks of the North-Midi Junction, between the station and the inner Ring Road, that directly interface with the public realm. They offer a unique opportunity to revitalize the district by finally activating these areas, which had previously been left largely derelict due to technical constraints such as costs and safety regulations.
Mission
The assignment involves developing credible scenarios for the activation of the "Quadrilatères" sites. This entails clarifying and objectively assessing all known constraints, as well as identifying programmatic opportunities, in order to formulate operational scenarios for project owners and decision-makers.
In addition to incorporating all known constraints, the task involves building upon previous work, specifically that of CRU7 and the SNCB’s call for expressions of interest (AMI), to advance the process toward the eventual activation of these strategic locations.
Approach
Our approach rests on two complementary dimensions : (1) building upon the visions and decisions already established for the neighborhood, specifically the vision and budgets outlined in the CRU, and (2) engaging in a collaborative process with all stakeholders to develop credible revitalization scenarios. To achieve this, we employ a methodology based on backcasting, defining a set of strategic constants to guide the development of these scenarios.