Walk: New focal points along the North-South connection
Brussels has always been a hub in the centre of Europe.
Even though today they look like narrow and winding medieval alleys, at the time they were the highways that connected the city from East to West with the outside world and they all converged on Grand-Place/Grote Markt.
Brussels was then the centre of Europe, situated between the world port of Bruges, Cologne, the great trading metropolis on the Rhine and Paris, the largest city north of the Alps. All these trade routes crossed at the deepest point of the valley: the Senne waterway. The topographical feature of the city was the height difference of more than 40m between uptown and downtown Brussels, with magnificent viewpoints and axis connections which developed over time.
The main urban development intervention of the 20th century – the North-South railway connection – has turned around the historically main orientation of the city and completely transformed the perspective into a concrete fault line. Today we experience it as a dividing line for motorised traffic with fragmented working-class neighbourhoods on both sides. It is high time to develop a vision where public green spaces, reorganisation of traffic and integration of housing are part of the equation.
The City of Brussels has commissioned a multidisciplinary team to find solutions for the future of the North-South railway connection and to develop a master plan. The intention is to interweave the city with East-West connections by making use of the hill that connects the upper and lower parts of the city into a coherent whole.
The section will be transformed into a residential and habitable ecosystem. In addition, transport will be adapted, spaces will be developed with new uses and meeting places for sports, culture, research, catering, all supported by the synergies between the different players.
Are you also interested to know more about the guidelines of this master plan which will again anchor the North-South railway connection with the East-West connections of the city?
An introduction to what was, what is and what will be!
Practical information:
Duration: 2h30
Meeting place: Congress Column, place du Congrès/Congresplaats, 1000 Brussels
Walk to the Brigittine church
Duration: 1h30 (walk around Central Station)
Meeting place: Main entrance Central Station, carrefour de l’Europe/Europakruispunt, 1000 Brussels
Booking: info@korei.be