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Brussels VS Brussellization
15.06.2025
Turning Brussels into a major tertiary city, a European capital at the crossroads of international flows: such was the economic and urban planning project at work in the aftermath of the 2nd World War. The historic city centre, the Leopold district, the inner ring roads, the station areas – the whole city was affected by this movement of destruction and urban modernisation. Today, the major works carried out during this period are commonly referred to as ‘Bruxellisation’, meaning the brutal transformation and functional division of the city at the expense of its inhabitants. This functionalist vision, disconnected from the traditional urban fabric, has historically been denounced by ARAU.
More than half a century later, Bruxellisation is a legacy that we must come to terms with as best we can. The buildings of the period constitute an important architectural heritage for Brussels, and one on which we must build to reinvest these districts with an urban character. However, the proposals put forward by the public authorities to promote a functional mix are hard to convince, as they reproduce outdated methods and projects.
So, what is the legacy of Bruxellisation? And what are the pitfalls we need to confront today for the future of these neighbourhoods? These are the questions we will try to answer during the visit!
Lieu
In the centre of Place Rogier (in front of the main entrance to Starbucks)
In the centre of Place Rogier (in front of the main entrance to Starbucks)
1000 Bruxelles
