IRIS OLIÉ

    During my semester at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam (September/January 2017), I worked in the city of Brussels. This city has, for me, three major issues: the flooding, the pollution and the lack of natural space. This was my starting point to give a new breath for Brussels.

    Studies and researches show that the city of Brussels was very polluted by the factories during the industrial era. The old river, which is now a polluted canal, should be used as an ecological corridor for the big scale. Not by destroying the walls but by adding a resistant metallic structure. Within this metallic structure, plants and animals can grow. This new ecological corridor will have the role of a riverbank to clean the water, all along her city crossing. For the middle scale, all along this new ecological corridor, few plots will function as a stepping stone for the biodiversity. It is the case for Tour & Taxis (T&T), old industrial site, partly abandoned, partly a park. T&T has still a ground extremely polluted. 

    Brussels is also prone to flooding. During huge precipitation, the level of water rise in different parts of Brussels. T&T is concerned by this flooding and half of the plot is under high risk of submersion. 

    Cleaning the ground and managing the floods can give more natural space to the city. These issues should work together at each scale of this industrial capital in reconversion. The water from the flood is manage by the infiltration in the ground and the water cathedral. Planting phyto-purifying plants permit to absorb the pollution. 

    The variety paths will control the water and have a different function. The most important function for these paths is to work as a dike to keep the water outside of the urban context.

    This resulted in a public space of nature, without any risks, within the capital, for the people who live there.