The Metrolab BrabantSZenne has been a living lab whose objective was to question the potential of a landscape infrastructure project to create collaborative dynamics between the institutional territories conforming the Brussels Metropolitan Area. This research-by-design founded by Innoviris in 2014 and 2015, was conducted by R. de Lestrange and J. Denef from the architecture and urbanism faculty LOCI (UCL), under the direction of Pr. B. Declève. The so-called BrabantSZenne project, a riverscape infrastructure, crosses the Brussels metropolitan area from South to North along the Senne River and its Canal. It has been conceived through four dimensions: spatial (a landscaped promenade and cycle route), environmental (rehabilitation of the river as a green corridor), economic (connection of local development initiatives) and political (cooperation of institutional territories and very different management domains). The living lab methodology was related to this late political dimension. Researchers, students and stakeholders progressively co-designed the project through different activities such as urban design studios, scientific seminars, thematical or local working groups. The presentation relates this journey, both in its design and processual aspects, as well as the scientific questions it crossed and opened. To know more click here
This event took place on 6th of March 2016 at UCL Faculté d'Architecture LOCI Bruxelles.