JGE
Basic information
Project Title
JGE
Full project title
JGE - Intergenerational Pool, Etterbeek
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
On an introverted urban plot on avenue d’Auderghem in the municipality of Etterbeek, an intergenerational pool is being built with diligence. Social housing, crèche, auditorium, multipurpose foyer, meeting centre, toy library: loose ends are being tied together and connected with the neighbouring school and environment. The urban acupuncture is becoming a reality.
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
Municipality of Etterbeeck, Brussels, Belgium
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
On an introverted urban plot on avenue d’Auderghem in the municipality of Etterbeek, an intergenerational pool is being built with diligence. Social housing, crèche, auditorium, multipurpose foyer, meeting centre, toy library: loose ends are being tied together and connected with the neighbouring school and environment. The urban acupuncture is becoming a reality. URA won the competition in the context of a sustainable neighbourhood contract.
It is with kid gloves that the architects are intervening in the existing situation. Demolition is being limited, building and topography restructured. The trapeze-shaped wall incision and the fan-shaped crèche and auditorium provide maximum openness and connection with the formal diversity of garden walls and differences in level.
On the western plot border, a former boules club, once designed by Pierre Blondel, has been tactfully converted into a toy library. An indented garden path departs from here – or ends here, depending on your point of view – in the direction of avenue d’Auderghem. A former house, on the one hand, and a new construction, on the other, provide access to the interior area. The ground floor has been kept deliberately porous to draw in the city and to draw the garden out into the city.
The house is being transformed into a meeting place for young parents, and the new construction includes a crèche, social housing and access to the auditorium with a multipurpose foyer on the ground floor. The foyer, the project’s connecting centre, connects the different spaces and levels to each other with the help of some interior and exterior windows.
The concrete shell of the auditorium has been left visible on the ceiling. For acoustic reasons, the walls have been covered with blue felt. Together with the discreet overhead lighting, the royal blue heightens the sense of safety in the heart of this city in the city.
It is with kid gloves that the architects are intervening in the existing situation. Demolition is being limited, building and topography restructured. The trapeze-shaped wall incision and the fan-shaped crèche and auditorium provide maximum openness and connection with the formal diversity of garden walls and differences in level.
On the western plot border, a former boules club, once designed by Pierre Blondel, has been tactfully converted into a toy library. An indented garden path departs from here – or ends here, depending on your point of view – in the direction of avenue d’Auderghem. A former house, on the one hand, and a new construction, on the other, provide access to the interior area. The ground floor has been kept deliberately porous to draw in the city and to draw the garden out into the city.
The house is being transformed into a meeting place for young parents, and the new construction includes a crèche, social housing and access to the auditorium with a multipurpose foyer on the ground floor. The foyer, the project’s connecting centre, connects the different spaces and levels to each other with the help of some interior and exterior windows.
The concrete shell of the auditorium has been left visible on the ceiling. For acoustic reasons, the walls have been covered with blue felt. Together with the discreet overhead lighting, the royal blue heightens the sense of safety in the heart of this city in the city.
Key objectives for sustainability
The critical approach to the complex research demand led to a new prototype of sustainable repurposing of interior of building blocks. A new world of spaces is hidden behind the facades of existing buildings. Within the capriciousness of these 'backsides', a new front can be created, with careful analysis of the existing context, combined with clear architecture and identity. This is a result that answers several very actual topics: how to revalue and repurpose unused spaces? How to introduce new dynamics within existing structures? How to make sustainable use of existing buildings instead of always constructing new ones? How to generate socially sustainable interaction between different generations, who are drifting further and further apart due to the changing society?
All these questions receive a clear and unambiguous answer, both at the architectural level and in the design of the outdoor spaces. Through a new 'language' and materialisation, the interaction with the users and visitors is made very visible. The new interventions are all integrally accessible, are flexible in use, and can change function over time.
The project offers a playful 'chain' where buildings, interiors and outdoor spaces succeed each other. The whole plays on both the larger scale as human interaction and experience.
All these questions receive a clear and unambiguous answer, both at the architectural level and in the design of the outdoor spaces. Through a new 'language' and materialisation, the interaction with the users and visitors is made very visible. The new interventions are all integrally accessible, are flexible in use, and can change function over time.
The project offers a playful 'chain' where buildings, interiors and outdoor spaces succeed each other. The whole plays on both the larger scale as human interaction and experience.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
In addition to the existing heritage, a new language and identity is chosen for all new additions within the block. Light steel pavilions provide a new dynamic, a new typology and a new materialisation and colour within the block.
This creates an overview, a clear recognition of elements, and a guideline throughout the project. These spaces, both on the exterior sides and the interiors, are all very carefully executed, creating a 'chain' of spatial experiences and impressions.
This creates an overview, a clear recognition of elements, and a guideline throughout the project. These spaces, both on the exterior sides and the interiors, are all very carefully executed, creating a 'chain' of spatial experiences and impressions.
Key objectives for inclusion
The project is a fully accessible place that provides a meeting place between different cultures and ages. By mixing various activities, from game library to creche to housing to multipurpose hall, a new intense connection is set up for residents of the neighbourhood and beyond.
The project is accessible for every visitor. The building serves different groups and generations. The building is fully accessible in terms of Universal Design. One layer, without trespasses or levels which can be obstructive for entering the building.
The project is accessible for every visitor. The building serves different groups and generations. The building is fully accessible in terms of Universal Design. One layer, without trespasses or levels which can be obstructive for entering the building.
Results in relation to category
The project is in direct use by the different 'actors' on site: the kindergarten is in use, as well as the library for toys. The polyvalent space is used by the existing school, which uses the function for the music academy, for plays, even as a refectory during mid-days.
The interaction of the different programs results in a new and sometimes unexpected usage. New possibilities are tested constantly, within the same framework.
The flexibility of the program coexists with the specificity of the architecture.
The interaction of the different programs results in a new and sometimes unexpected usage. New possibilities are tested constantly, within the same framework.
The flexibility of the program coexists with the specificity of the architecture.
How Citizens benefit
This project was initiated by the municipality itself, as a result of a neighbourhood contract, which was a result of highly participatory work with the neighbourhood and the municipality. This resulted in a clear programme of requirements, which was needed in the neighbourhood. The various activities are run by people from the neighbourhood, in cooperation with the municipality. The diversity of programmes and spaces ensures that this place is for all people from the neighbourhood, regardless of age, background, culture. It is an inclusive place for all residents.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The project aims to claim to be a new prototype for opening up internal building blocks to the public realm. By opening the inner core of these typical building blocks to the outside, new untouched areas become visible and accesibility for a broad range of visitors, of all ages, of all cultures.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The 'neighbourhood contract' distilled from research on the needs of the neighbourhood, makes a clear list of needs and demands from the local neighbourhood.
This instrument is very useful in the defining of a clear program for the architecture.
The expertise of the bouwmeester maitre architecte of Brussels (bMa) in organising well-defined competitions, is a good base for attracting qualitative designers for the project. The municipality facilitates the construction of the different parts of the project.
This instrument is very useful in the defining of a clear program for the architecture.
The expertise of the bouwmeester maitre architecte of Brussels (bMa) in organising well-defined competitions, is a good base for attracting qualitative designers for the project. The municipality facilitates the construction of the different parts of the project.
Methodology used
The approach is identical to all projects made by the office URA Yves Malysse Kiki Verbeeck. Strong in-depth analysis of both program and context results in a clear scheme for the project. The existing buildings inside the building block are analysed in terms of reusing or upcycling. In addition to these existing, a new architecture is introduced to interact with the users and visitors. A new typology of pavillions is added to the public parcours.
A clear scheme of programs is spread consciously on the site to interact maximally with the fluxes of visitors and users.
A clear scheme of programs is spread consciously on the site to interact maximally with the fluxes of visitors and users.
How stakeholders are engaged
On regional level an agreement has been made with participation of the bouwmeester maitre architecte of Brussels (bMa), the municipality of Etterbeek, and the different users.
On Brussels regional level, 'wijkcontracten' or 'neighbourhood contracts' are constructions to enable communities to make an in-depth-investments on the real needs of the neighbourhood. This contract results in a very clear list of demands and needs, which can be developed into real projects.
This project is the result of an international design competition, organised by the bouwmeester maitre architecte of Brussels, in collaboration with the municipality of Etterbeek. The project makes place and spaces for the different users of the site: library for toys, social place for young mothers, a kindergarten, a polyvalent space for music and culture, social housing units, public spaces.
On Brussels regional level, 'wijkcontracten' or 'neighbourhood contracts' are constructions to enable communities to make an in-depth-investments on the real needs of the neighbourhood. This contract results in a very clear list of demands and needs, which can be developed into real projects.
This project is the result of an international design competition, organised by the bouwmeester maitre architecte of Brussels, in collaboration with the municipality of Etterbeek. The project makes place and spaces for the different users of the site: library for toys, social place for young mothers, a kindergarten, a polyvalent space for music and culture, social housing units, public spaces.
Global challenges
The project aims to claim to be a new prototype for opening up internal building blocks to the public realm. By opening the inner core of these typical building blocks to the outside, new untouched areas become visible and accesibility for a broad range of visitors, of all ages, of all cultures.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
New public spaces can be found in the core of existing building blocks, and so minimalises the use of new terrains for new programming.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
New public spaces can be found in the core of existing building blocks, and so minimalises the use of new terrains for new programming.
Learning transferred to other parties
The project aims to claim to be a new prototype for opening up internal building blocks to the public realm. By opening the inner core of these typical building blocks to the outside, new untouched areas become visible and accesibility for a broad range of visitors, of all ages, of all cultures.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
The methodology to reach this point can be reused in different specific cases.
The project tries to show its potential, not only in the specificity of the Brussels context, but as an example for a wide range of European cities, dealing with lack and poor quality of public spaces.
The methodology to reach this point can be reused in different specific cases.
Keywords
intergenerational
public spaces
multipurpose
urban environment
new prototype of redeveloping inner building blocks
