II solemnlysolemnly pledge pledge to to public public space space

dualities in contemporary publicURBAN BOULEVARDS space developments; polycentralisation, collectivity, digitalisation and urban identities

applied in brussels’ leopold quarter and the european project.

URBAN BOULEVARDS

BLOCK INTERIOR

URBAN BOULEVARDS

FORUM SQUARE

BLOCK INTERIOR

FORUM SQUARE

BLOCK INTERIOR L DANIEL SWAKMAN

thesis.indd 1 08/04/2011 14:54:15

FORUM SQUARE preface

a strategy and design. The second chapter, “Changing c o l o p h o n urban public space”, gives an overview of the first p r e f a c e part of the theoretical background. It is actually a architecture+urbanism graduation thesis This thesis roughly concerns public space; its reworking of a paper written earlier on in the research, L Daniel Swakman theorisations, its urban perception, its issues of now fitted into the larger scope of this thesis. The identity and property, and finally its crafting and third chapter “Celebrating Europe” discusses the 12 april 2011 design. second part of the theory; the location-specific themes It is a means of exploring a personal fascination with that have been researched and analysed. In the fourth the public domain. It can be seen as a pivot point in tutors (architecture): S. Lee, T. Avermaete chapter “Embedded publicness” the observations the functioning of the city, a place where the actors from both previous chapters are combined into the of the urban condition meet, move, interact and tutors (urbanism): W. Hermans, S. Read elaboration of the urban strategy for the case study effectively live out the city. This thesis therefore location. The fifth chapter “A European Forum” deals tutor (building technology): E. van der has a research component which deals with the with the elaboration of the physical design for one of Zaag contemporary phenomena in public space. Namely its the strategic projects. developments of mobility and digitalisation. In a more real and practical sense, the thesis has a real As a newspaper, this thesis has different levels Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of component: the analysis, treatment, of reading; there is the Technology strategy and design of an actual urban This thesis roughly ‘headhunting’ (Duch: situation. concerns public space; koppensnellen) and visual A conclusive statement would All content made by its theorisations, its browsing, which should give be that this thesis is the final the reader an overview of (unless stated otherwise) product of a 1,5 year graduation L Daniel Swakman urban perception, its the content and understand project in the combined field of issues of identity and the line of reasoning from architecture+urbanism. This has been property, and finally its the images and diagrams. a conscious combination. Typeface design The second layer is the crafting and design. Europa, London, UK underlined parts of the texts. www.europaeuropa.co.uk They allow for a more textual r e a d i n g g u i d e elaboration (in keywords) The thesis is divided in five parts: the introduction, of the images and headlines. When one dives into initiating th reader in the topic of this research the texts themselves, the total content is revealed, and outlining the problem definition, aim and and elaborated on. This way, both quick readers and methodology for the development of the research into people who are interested further are served.

thesis.indd 2 08/04/2011 14:54:16 contents

preface 2

01 introduction 5 01.01 topic 5 01.02 problem definition 6 01.03 research question 6 01.05 case location 7

02 changing urban public space 9 02.01 introduction 9 02.02 theoretical background 10 02.02.01 non-places 02.02.02 despatialised city 02.02.03 personalised portability 02.03 the effects 11 02.03.01 decentralisation 02.03.02 augmented reality 02.03.03 urban identity 02.03.04 collectivisation 02.04 conclusions 14

03 celebrating europe 15 03.01 introduction 15 03.02 historical developments 15 03.03 development into the EU quarter 19 03.04 network analysis of Brussels 19 03.06 a grid pattern vs the object city 21 03.07 a european capital and symbiosis 21 03.08 public space atmosphere 23 03.09 conclusion 23

04 urban strategy 25 04.01 problem summary 25 04.02 proposal 26 04.03 from flatness to a polycentric network 26 04.04 project 1 urban boulevards 28

04.05 project 2 recaptured blocks 29 04.06 project 3 european forum 28

06 reflection/recommendations 31

bibliography 33

appendices 35

thesis.indd 3 08/04/2011 14:54:16 Mulberry street in Little Italy, New York, around 1900

Patchwork

Metropolis, Willem

Jan Neutelings

street scene in front of New York’s Grand Central Station, 2008

map of light pollution in

Europe around urban cores

4

thesis.indd 4 08/04/2011 14:54:20 01introduction

t o p i c into the car and drive onto the highway, or whether 2004). The integration of the new office functions

The contemporary city is a place of constant change we emerge from a metro entrance in a vibrant part of with its context was absent, since there had never and development. A simple but eloquent statistic is town – no longer are we able to understand the city been a vision of how this office development should the world’s urban population in relation to the rural. by its sequence of spaces. On top of that, a completely relate to the context it was set in. From 2007 onwards, more people have been living new type of space needed to be designed: that space This outlines the main problem the European Quarter in urban areas than on the countryside [Figure x]. dominated by infrastructure. Metro stations, airport has to deal with: an expanding but decentralised The Industrial Revolution allowed people to move lounges, highways and their environments – all European Union government, housed in a with automated means, and examples of a space typology that emerged right along monumental former residential area of a culturally incorporate distant locations with the technologies very defined city, lacking a clear identity or even a into their daily patterns; the “the traditional image they derive from: non- direction of architectonic expression. Digital Revolution allowed of public space in places. people to communcate a pre-industrialised This introduction to the topic of this thesis already and work on these distant This thesis discusses shows the [dual/twofold] character of the theoretical locations. The traditional society has been the effect of an urban background: the first part being the observations of image of public space in a pre- replaced by a space space that is not only the changes our public space is undergoing as a result industrialised society [Figure x] dominated by significant as a local of increasing mobility and communication, and the has been replaced by a space place, but embedded in second part being the discussion of the case study dominated by infrastructure and infrastructure and an increasingly larger set of the European Union, and its role in the city of communication [Figure x]. communication” of networks. An eloquent Brussels. The paragraph ‘case study location’, further example of such an on in this introduction, will show the considerations

This pattern has been a driving increasing density of for choosing the European project. force in the globalisation of cities throughout the networks and layers in a part of the city, and thereby planet. This connectivity of metropolises gave way an increasing complexity, is the situation of the capital for a new type of culture, rather different than that of the European Union. Ever since the emergence of of the local culture. Like the emergence of a city as European collaboration treaties like the ECSC and the p r o b l e m d e f i n i t i o n

a centrality between a landscape of small villages, EEC in the 1950s [note], the issue has emerged of how The globalising tendency of urban spaces puts the the global city is a centrality between large cities such a international (if not global) political institution city under pressure: an emerging and increasing throughout the planet. And likewise, a global culture should manifest itself. The first aspect of it is the confrontation of multiple identities and networks. No of connectivity emerges in those places of a city that notion of a capital: the European officially lists three: longer is the city home to people living and working are embedded in larger networks. Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg. In these cities, within its borders, making it their place; but the city’s the seven institutional bodies of the European Union public space has had to deal with its being a host to

The particularly fascinating aspect of this above are housed, the majority of which are located in external visitors and corresponding identities. mentioned shift from the city as a regional centrality Brussels. At present date, four of the seven European These newcomers in the city’s space are not mere towards its being a node in a network of increasing governing bodies are located in the Leopold Quarter in incidents; they leave their distinct trace. The city’s size, is the perception of the urban space by the city Brussels, occupying almost a million square meters in space is now a shared domain. dweller. A direct result of the availability of faster this centrally located part of the city. One of the main tangible components is a new means of transportation – like the car, train, metro, type of space as a result of the physical scale of airplane and so forth – is a shift in perception of the The relationship of the city of Brussels with the transportation interventions: the train stations and city around you. Instead of experiencing the city from European Union as its inhabitant can be said to be airport lounges that facilitate modern global mobility. space to space, from one street to the next and on to highly problematic. Since the arrival of the EU in the How can the city cope with this increasing pressure the city’s square, we now have a set of fragmented 1960s, the Leopold quarter was transformed by half on public space? glimpses of the urban public space. Because we step a century of uncontrolled office expansion into an administrative ghetto: the European Quarter (Gall,

5

thesis.indd 5 08/04/2011 14:54:20 EU occupancy of the

Leopold Quarter in Brussels

r e s e a r c h q u e s t i o n of Brussels. Here, the aim is to get a clear overview of the presence of (heavy) infrastructure is a key factor – In order to get started with the exploration of the the situation, in order to ouline the main problems. apparently this brings about a typical sense of place, themes that are addressed here, this thesis firstly This will then provide the framework for the urban inherent to the contemporary complex city. Reasons gives an overview of theories about public space strategy and the design of the public space. for this will be further explored in [Chapter 2]. of the twentieth century city. This should provide a theoretical background answering to the first research question: what are the main contemporary c a s e l o c a t i o n “In the general sense, developments in the city’s public space? Along with the exploration into the changing values this thesis talks about The aim here is to obtain a clearly interpretable set of of contemporary public space, came the need to the public realm of themes that are apparent points of conflict or duality actually observe and test these assertions in a case in public space today. Pointing out these themes in study location. To be able to work with the themes the post-modern real situations will provide an elaboration. that were adopted in the theory, the location would technological city. In In a more practical framework, the case of the logically be located in an area that has grown up the particular sense, European Union in Brussels has its own story. with the technological advances of which we speak; As stated before, it is an imminent example of a a modern city. A number of urban areas started to one location was globalising public domain, and functions thus as a emerge; mostly dealing with infrastructure in the city, chosen where the logical consecutive step. In this case it is important a meeting point of cultures or activities, and a certain public domain is a very to treat the following sensitivity with regard to historical buildings real topic of debate: question: what exactly is the “an expanding but manifestation of the European and the modern. the European Quarter decentralised European This overview shows Union in Brussels today, in Brussels.” and what are the historical Union government, housed six location where such phenomena are developments leading up to in a monumental former it? This involves the treating present, if not native of the physical housing of the residential area of a to their existence. An global identity of Europe in culturally very defined city, important observation in this case was, that the local context of the city lacking a clear identity or even a direction of architectonic expression”

6

thesis.indd 6 08/04/2011 14:54:20 Shinjuku Station Tokyo Being the largest station in Tokyo, processing an node becomes almost like a machine facilitating the 3.64 million passengers per day estimated 3.46 million passengers each day, Shinjuku existence of a polynuclear megalopolis. Station forms one of the main hubs of Tokyo. Though its sheers size and density of program, the

Dam Square Amsterdam Originated as one of the central spaces of the old (through the ‘Burgerzaal’), now its uses are mainly functionless monument since 1665 town of Amsterdam, the Dam Square and the Royal ceremonial and touristic. The infrastructure beside it Palace on it still perform a major function in the city. is one of the main arteries of the inner city, and being Although the palace used to function as a true point of expanded with a metro tunnel. interaction between the municipality and the citizens

Gare du Nord Paris The European equivalent of an infrastructural hub. the 6 major stations on the edge of the city. Here, 0.5 million passengers per day The paradox of Paris as the absolute centre of the connection between the enormous amount of France and internationally as a major hub of train interurban traffic and the status quo of the urban place connections, all the train lines terminate at one of is felt.

European Quarter Brussels At the emergence of the post-war European office expansion took over the area, and obliterated 150.000 ‘European’ residents collaboration Communities (EEC, ECSC, later EU), all residential function. Now the area is faced with this former residential quarter rapidly transformed exclusion from the city, and the constant influx of into a business district. As a sudden wedge in the 150.000 European commuters each day. continuity of the urban fabric, the uncontrolled

7

thesis.indd 7 08/04/2011 14:54:21 Forum Les Halles Paris Historically relevant as a vibrant marketplace, the urban space, the whole world seems to be calling failed metro station and underground Forum Les Halles was transformed along the line of for its redesign. A challenge of an urban centrality shopping mall thought of post-war Brutalism, and houses a metro faced with heavy infrastructure and programmatic station and an underground shopping mall underneath densification. a garden landscape. Since long characterised as a failed

Plaça de la Catalunya Barcelona A remnant space of the square grid extension plan well as the morphological and cultural meeting of two the grid meets the old town and doesn’t like it by Ildefons Cerdà in 1859, the Placa de la Catalunya parts of the city (old and new), the square is a space is one of the infrastructural centralities for the inner constant development. city traffic. Both faced by the difficulty of facilitating heavy infrastructure with urban pedestrian space, as

l o c a t i o n c h o i c e presence of the European institutions in Brussels. parts, the proposed strategy for improvement of the A clear characterisation of place shows from the With a rapid growth within 50 years, a true office area will be described. Then a further elaboration on above discussed places. Perhaps the most important district has emerged, unplanned. This resulted in the the intervention in the form of a physical design for aspect is the convergence of infrastructure – be extrapolation of the public space into a deserted are the public space will be presented. it car roads, metro stations or train lines – with a between office blocks. Combined with the need for cultural-historical relevance, and often a demand for large scale infrastructure for facilitate the influx of its programmatic density as a central place in a city. With workers, this location was chosen as a test case to the exception of Tokyo, all locations are Western improve the condition of the public space. European, reflecting a certain position in urban development. Also important in this sense, is the approach of consciously designing public places. This In the following chapters we will expand on the is a feature rather present in European developments project. Starting with a theoretical framework, when compared to developing countries, and perhaps outlining the contemporary developments of public also even more than in North America. space in [Chapter 2]. After that, the condition of the One of the most striking place conditions is the EU in Brussels will be discussed. Following these two

8

thesis.indd 8 08/04/2011 14:54:21 02changing urban public space

City of London by night, from above

02.01 introduction This communication infrastructure has become an (mobile) phone systems and the internet. The perception of the form of the contemporary city embedded property of the contemporary global city. has changed drastically in the 20th century. In pre- This is evident for example in the organisation of the In order to get a grip on the previously discussed industrialised society, an individual’s habitat used to global financial and trading market, which has become shifts in perception, it is important to first look at the be defined by reach (on foot) and spatial continuity. fully electronic and fully international (Sassen, 2002). reasons why this has come to be. In other words, An urban dweller would perceive the urban fabric to answer the question: Why is public space of the as a contiguous environment in which they move, On a spatial level, urban decentring is taking place metropolitan city undergoing such rapid change? In where one space is followed by another, and thereby as a result of the described mobilitty patterns. This three parts, the concept of changing contemporary establishing their mutual relation. Ever since the leads to the production and consumption of ‘empirical public space will be treated. In order to refrain from Industrial Revolution allowed people to incorporate non-places’: spaces of circulation, consumption and remaining too abstract or general, a deliberate choice distant locations into their daily patterns, this communication (Augé, 1995). Hajer & Reijndorp is made to treat some more concrete theories in the traditional relation between urban spaces is no longer talk about the effect of the emergence of non-places; first section. Here, Augé’s description of non-places is omnipresent. they consider society as an archipelago of enclaves, juxtaposed with concrete empirical research on digital a stage where people develop a personalised set of technologies in public space.

According to Manuel Castells (1996), the traditional spaces in which they choose to either encounter or If these changes are recognised and to some extent concentric organisation of towns around the church avoid (Hajer & Reijndorp, 2002) - a kind of selective defined, the question arises: How to design for a and market square and encapsulated by fortification urban experience. There is a fundamental difference new perception of public space, no longer local and walls (Arendt, 1958), has transformed into a ‘network to the pattern of the city when it is considered as a contiguous? This will be explored in the next section. society’. In this theory, one of the main properties collection of places with specific identity, as opposed Here, four principal characteristics are presented that of the spatial structure of public spaces is its body of to a continuous spatial fabric. In the latter, the act of can be used. communication. As Castells defines it, “a network travelling functions as the glue in this organisation. society is a society whose social structure is made This crystallisation of the rather broad theories is of networks powered by microelectronics-based Taking these notions into account, two principal a way of making the transition into design. This infrastructure and communication technologies” factors can be discerned that have influenced the literature review will form the basis for developing (Castells, 2004). In other words, no longer is the emergence of this spatially disjoint organisation. The statements for a design location, and thus provide a principal carrier of society real-time personal first is mobility of people to move themselves from solid argument for decisions from the design point interaction between persons and between person and place to place, effective through public and private of view. During the further stage of the project new space, but it has advanced into relying on advancing transport; the second is the communication networks topics will arise that will require further exploration technological infrastructure for its functioning. that have been set up to facilitate this mobility, like of certain aspects, as should always happen in a

9

thesis.indd 9 08/04/2011 14:54:21 fruitful design process. However, this paper forms the Augé theorises these developments by defining nonphysical reality, but rather a generic character basis for a grip on the topic. the emergence of empirical non-places: spaces of that disconnects space from its rooting on a specific circulation, consumption and communication. He location – it can be reproduced anywhere. describes characteristic areas like airport lounges, 02.02 theoretical b a c k g r o u n d shopping malls, station areas and highways – the In the second place there emerges a new need for Theorisations on the changing mobility in the urban majority of our contemporary physical public security. The arms of global communication reach out environment are manifold. Something that Castells, domain. The principal problem with these spaces is to a multitude of places and poses new questions to Augé, Sassen, Roberts and many others all deal that they are not designed or aimed for dwelling of privacy borders and restrictions. It also relates to the with however, is the fact that public space is faced man, but processing people’s activities, like shopping cocooning effect that modern media have on public with new factors: speed, mobility, migration, the global, internationality etc. It is dangerous to argue the superiority of the changes of this time when compared to the magnitude of historical revolutionary events that were also reason for great developments (i.e. the expansion of the Roman Empire); one runs the risk of denying the latter’s profoundness. Something that can be said however, is that the rate of contemporary changes is unprecedented. Especially developments in the ICT field are within a timeframe of less than 30 years.

Consequently, it is relevant to consider the cultural framework in which these theories take place. Most of the discourse on the change in public space as a result of recent development discussed here, is talking about – and is conducted by players from - public space in western developed society. It is true though, global culture of airport lounges that this is often the place which is on the cusp of new developments, and can be said to be an ‘early adapter’ or travelling. According to Augé, these theories are life – one can easily wall themselves off from public of new technologies and trends. already reality, and we are ‘doomed to seek beauty in engagement by interaction with other environments non-places’. through a phone call or a media player. Non-places In the introduction to the second edition of his Despatialised city The third notion is the need for thematisation or book ‘Non-places’, Marc Augé (1995) poses a triple Another theory that describes the notion of mobility simulation. A public space in itself needs to posess decentring that is taking place in the urban fabric in public space is that of the despatialised city. identifiable qualities in order to remain relevant in a of developed countries: Firstly, cities nowadays are Michael Sorkin (1992) talks about the ‘instant artificial world with increasingly closer links. In this way, a defined by their capacity to facilitate urban flows, adjacency’ as a result of computers, credit cards and city centre – with all its spatial restrictions – can only in other words the import and export of people, phones, leading to an ageographical city – an urbanity survive by marketing its history; the only confluent products, images and messages. Secondly, in the without a place attached to it. In this new type of city, value for the urban becomes the historic. individual’s dwelling the tv and computer have the phone and modem render the street irrelevant and replaced the hearth as the centre of the household. other dimensions become preeminent. Personalised portability Thirdly, an individual is living in multiple visual, Relating to Sorkin’s observations above is the use musical or intellectual environments that are Sorkin talks about the three characteristic properties of personalised objects to relate or distantiate from independent of their physical environment through of this city; firstly, the loosening of ties to any specific one’s environment. How public space is perceived portable devices, thus becoming decentred from place. Globalised capital, electronic communication nowadays cannot be seen without taking into account themselves on a specific place. and mass culture are the reason for this. This the influence of portable technologies, which have despatialised environment does not per se entail a become a commodity in contemporary metropolitan

10

thesis.indd 10 08/04/2011 14:54:22 public behaviour in the Tokyo subway

life. A triad of objects can be discerned at the basis of this: telephone, wallet and keys (Ito et al, 2007). These objects allow for interaction with physical space (keys), with people (either nearby and remote through phone) and with institutions (payment with bank card, personalised public transport card, etc). Also advanced digital devices like portable music player and laptop play an important part here.

A recent research by Ito, Okabe and Anderson (2007) shows the effect of personalised portable objects in public space. The study presents three ways of urban dwelling that involve the usage of portable media devices, infrastructure, the interaction with people and locations: cocooning, camping and footprinting. From the point of view of the institutions it can serve indeed shift – the border between private and public. Cocooning involves the – deliberate or accidental – commercial purposes, from the individual’s point of creation of a bubble of privatised space around oneself view it is about financial benefits or (easy) access. 02.02 t h e e f f e c t s when negotiating through public domain, for instance Examples here are a public transport card, discount or The aspect that has been the central focus of when one is on the phone in the street, or listening saving cards at stores, or keycards to access less public discussion here is the uprooting of the traditional to a music player and reading a book while in the spaces. concept of a city understood as a spaces which metro. Camping is the creation of a small temporary are only related by direct physical adjacency. As encampment in public space; but this is often more All three observations relate to what Manuel de Solà- shown above, this fundamental difference in moving because of the engagement with the surrounding Morales (1992) states about collective spaces: to give through public spaces is due to two reasons: physical public environment than isolation. An example of private spaces a public character, in order to achieve a infrastructure (public and private transport) and digital this is setting up a laptop in a cafe to sit and work, ‘true’ urban experience. It juxtaposes this theory in the networks (phone, internet). This section presents while enjoying the surrounding ambient sounds. sense that the above mentioned examples are in a way four characteristic fields that are most relevant when Footprinting means leaving traces of a personal privatising public domain (instead of collectivising considering how to design with this urban complexity. profile in public space, in databases of institutions. private domain), but also here they redefine – and

Decentralisation governance where everything is controlled through a 2002). Furthermore, with the increasing physical One of the main reasons for the continuing success hierarchy. mobility and the consideration of an archipelago of of the internet was its user-based development. It The same can be said about the organisation enclaves (Hajer & Reijndorp, 2002) it also starts to is the power of the a-hierarchic mass that gives it a of centrality in public space. When considering become relevant for the structure of public spaces. broad basis of credibility. This is something that has the network of centralities in a city, the most The Randstad is a good example here of a highly emerged under the denominator of ‘web 2.0’; rather flexible system is formed through the complete polycentric metropolis, where each node (city) has than a digital elite providing information and content, interconnectivity of all nodes (Salingaros, 2000). This certain qualities and enjoys a great deal of movement it is based on the participation of virtually everyone to utopian theorisation has started come to reality, in in-between nodes. the provision of content in a database-like structure. the first place in the organisation of internet, and This movement is an example of a democratic consequently in the organisation of the financial bottom-up structure, as opposed to a top-down and economical sector as a global system (Sassen,

11

thesis.indd 11 08/04/2011 14:54:23 Augmented reality Media theorists in the 1990s had the rather lucid (Manovich, 2002) poses that man occupies physical One generalising observation that can be drawn image of ‘the virtual’ taking over all physical actions space, real space, but that its experience can be from the usage of internet in contemporary society, of man (Avermaete, 2009), since digital space is much augmented by the instant access of information and is its multi-functionality. At the beginning of the 21st less bound to laws - only to our imagination. interactions of the virtual domain. In that sense it century we are only at the start of the possibilities is true that this virtual domain is just as ‘real’ as the of this non-physical mode of interaction with More recently, the debate in this area has started to physical world. information and people; new technologies constantly shift; real space has proven its value and is considered broaden the scope of possibilities. This poses the to be enhanced by the information and interaction systemic question: where does this revolution end? flow of virtual space. This augmented reality theory

Urban identity this place, and its identity starts to act accordingly. European District is juxtaposed with the small scale The notion that is very much at hand in the light of friendliness of a Northern European city centre with cities expanding their horizons to a broader audience. So more than ever the question of how to relate the its historic quality and vibrancy. Even though it is true that the question of whom parochial to the global is a relevant one at envisioning the city is made for has never had an unambiguous public space. An example of this for instance is answer, the effects of the globalisation of mainly Brussels; on the one hand it functions as a capital of the world economy (Sassen, 2001) suddenly make a a relatively modest and accessible country; on the global city to actually function by its name. This can other hand, it is the unofficial capital of Europe and be juxtaposed by the very fundamental notion of a houses most of the European organisations. This leads place – any place, really – being made by people or to tensions in the urban composition in the city; the inhabitants with a certain idea in mind on the usage of rather monofunctional office park that makes the

Collectivisation thematisation that Michael Sorkin talks about also spaces; Manuel de Solà-Morales mentions this as The last notion that deserves attention for tend towards an increasing privatisation of public a precondition for the true urban experience. The consideration is the relation between public places. This is often the result of a market (private) imminent privatisation of the current public domain and private, particularly in public space. The governance on space management. (Banerjee, 2001) poses a threat to the diversity of the previous section already talked about the effects of urban city. telecommunications and digital media in public space, It will remain important to address the border and address the notion of publicness and interaction. between the private and public, and to consider the Simultaneously, the increasing despatialising and qualities of a collective character of frequently used

12

thesis.indd 12 08/04/2011 14:54:24 l e f t

Plan of Parc de La Villette, Paris - This design for a park with folly structures placed on a regular grid illustrates designing with polycentralisation: the grid as the ultimate organisational system without hierarchiy

r i g h t

Polycentralisation taking place in cities: Rotterdam no more consists of one urban centre, but has a clearly marketed diversity of cores with different characters

l e f t

People using digital devices in the subway - the

Tottenham Court Road 897m/0.56 miles Nearest for digital space has emerged as a secondary public Central Piccadilly

Leicester Square 285m/0.16 miles Nearest for space Northern Piccadilly

r i g h t

iPhone AR apps - ‘augmented reality’ apps use the camera of the phone to display the physical world, but overlay it with layers of information, thereby connecting the virtual with the physical

l e f t

La Paella International signs in local Asmterdam street - the urban space is no longer home to one identity; it has to face many different scales

r i g h t

IKEA product catalog - as a global brand, IKEA produces a generic identity, replicated around the world and designed to emanate genericness

l e f t

store within a store - the public domain has shifting borders, when the interior of a bookstore becomes like a street in the sense that it hosts the entrance to a coffee store

r i g h t

plan of Kalvertoren shopping centre, Amstredam - During daytime, this essentially private interior becomes public as a street, having shops inside it

13

thesis.indd 13 08/04/2011 14:54:25 conclusions to avoid a bureaucratic structure of hierarchy and project them on a design location, and to draw the This paper discussed the changed spatial percep- aim for a system that is connecting nodes offers image that should bridge the gap between theory tion of public spaces as a result of the digitalisa- much more flexibility. and realisation. tion and mobilisation of contemporary western Augmented reality posits somewhere between society. The emergence of a non-contiguous urban the physical and the virtual; it states that physi- fabric can be distinguished clearly, as a societal cal space is the basis for human dwelling, and the phenomenon (Castells, 2004; Augé, 1995), as a virtual ought to complement it with its dynamic global financial system (Sassen, 2001), or as a qualities. It should make use of its immediacy pattern for public space organisation (Hajer & of information, thereby relieving physical space Reijndorp, 2002). from the necessity of function. Two theorisations that clear describe a set of ef- Urban identity is a more neutral position on the fects were discussed: Marc Augé’s observations of parochial vs the global; both worlds have their triple decentring: a city as an interactive import- relevance and should be taken into account. In de- export system, the display being the central ele- sign terms, this means considering the small-scale ment in a home environment, and the multiplicity local activities and patterns, as well as the relation of environments that are inhabited by a person to a globalised urban environment. that are detached from the physical. Michael Sor- Collectivisation deals with the relation between kin relates to these statements: he poses the despa- public and private; the trend of privatisation of tialised city as a reality. Three reasons he mentions the public realm as a result of private ownership for this are the loosing of ties to any specific place, diminishes the unexpected and the alien, a condi- the new need for security (or capsularisation), and tion of public space essential to the true urban the emerging thematisation or simulation. experience. Collectivisation advocates general publicness to counteract this trend.

Then this development was linked to the increas- ing importance of personalised portable objects, This discours did not aim not to provide a solu- which use digital technologies to perform ac- tion to one specific problem; the discussed aspects tions that change an individual’s relation to the already show the complexity of the problem. It space around them. Three type of behaviour were rather gives an overview of the main consequenc- observed: cocooning, camping and footprinting. es that the public domain is faced with when one The first two are more active than the last one; considers the developments of digital technolo- footprinting is rather a subconscious system that gies and physical mobility. In other words, what in a way tracks an individual in space. Cocooning remains of our traditional image of public space is the more isolative act of the three; deliberately when faced with increasing mobilisation and the shielding oneself from interactions when one is digital. forced to reside in a space. The most important is- sue with all three however, is how usage of digital interfaces shifts the boundary between publicness recommendations and capsularisation. One can start to be private in Although the complexity of the topic has become a public environment. clear, there are certainly clear points that have emerged, which can connect to further research.

As a result, four central themes describe the A useful aspect is to use design to envision what relevant fields of discussion: decentralisation, truly decentralised, collective, urban, augmented augmented reality, urban identity and collectivisa- space can be. tion. In a way, they are already positions on each’s When faced with the unknown, it lies in design own gradient duality within themselves. In the to provide powerful imagery to help us adapt to gradient of top-down hierarchy versus node-based revolutionary developments (Drewe, 2001). The patterns, the notion decentralisation claims that next step will be to take the four characteristics, to

14

thesis.indd 14 08/04/2011 14:54:26 03celebrating europe

introduction was along the lines of the envisioned monumentality;

What are we talking about here? The European an orthogonal grid pattern of streets was laid out, residence in Brussels can be seen as a very relevant in which a reseidential neighbourhood emerged. In example of globalising urban space: the confrontation an attempt to prevent the outflux of higher middle of different identities - global and local, the class French citizens in the second half of the 19th confrontation of different infrastructural scales. In the century, this quarter was set up with a grandure and European Quarter, these developments have taken a luxury that was not found in the original city centre. big flight; it is characterised by polarisation of office This demographic shift was a result of the lingual and culture, leading to the exclusion from the area as a cultural dynamic going on in the city for centuries: the public domain from the city. The role and physical Flemish versus the Walloons. presence of infrastructure further increases this The urban fabric mostly consisted of three storey polarisation. high housing, in a closed block structure with private But since this is the place that has one of the most physical manifestations of the Europe, questions regarding its identity go further than just an office district (Kallas & Picqué, 2007). This chapter analyses the current situation and its developments, thereby denoting the main problems that characterise the deadlock that the area is in.

h i s t o r i c a l developments The Leopold Quarter was part of an extension plan of King Leopold built between 1850 and 1880. King Leopold posed a vision for a monumental Brussels, reminiscent of Haussmann’s interventions in Paris.

His most important marks on the texture of the city are the Pentagon ring road around the city centre, and the monumental boulevards stretching outwards from it. On the east side of the centre, the Rue de la Loi connected to the Parc Cinquantennaire, a former military marching field (‘champ de mars’).

The extension of the urban fabric towards the east

historic city centre (pentagon ) Leopold quarter current urban fabric Leopold intervention axes

ABOVE the Leopold Quarter, 1935

BELOW Leopold Quarter, 2005

15

thesis.indd 15 08/04/2011 14:54:28 75% 5% 46% POPU of Brussels’ population are 150 000 of Brussels’ population are of eurocrats European residents living in Brussels expats foreign LATION in Brussels, living or daily commuting there, which the city has to deal with.

€2 billion/year 80.000 80000 70000 GDP 60000 50.000 50000 ECO 40000 30000 20.000 20000 NOMY 10% 10000 of Brussels’ jobs is related to EU 0 of which a third is directly at the EU and two-third jobs in related fields. 13% jobs at the EU of Brussels’ GDP generated by international companies jobs at EU-related org. € 3 jobs at 2000 international companies generated for every €1 spent

The European Union generating triple its expenses as income in Brussels.

OFFICE SPACE

16

thesis.indd 16 08/04/2011 14:54:28 EUROPE IN BRUSSELS What does Europe in Brussels mean?

Brussels has to deal with about 150,000 ‘European’ residents that either live in the city or daily commute there, though 75% of the European officials work in the EUQ actually live in Brussels. 75% 5% 46% POPU Expats make up 5% of the total Brussels population of Brussels’ population are 150 000 of Brussels’ population are almost half (46%) of Brussels’ population is foreign of eurocrats European residents living in Brussels expats foreign LATION (non-Belgian) in Brussels, living or daily commuting there, which the city has to deal with. Every job at one of the European organisations create two jobs in related fields, € and every 1 euro spent at the EU organisation is equalled by 3 euro elsewhere in Brussels, as a result of this. 10% of the Brussels jobs is related to the EU; the EU institutions provides 50,000 jobs, another 20,000 in peripheral activity – generating €2 billion per year – and 80,000 people are employed by the 2000 international companies 13% of Brussels’ GDP comes from international organisations. €2 billion/year 80.000 80000 The EU officially has capital in 3 cities, although 70000 Brussels houses 4 of the 7 European governing GDP 60000 50.000 50000 ECO bodies 40000 30000 the EC currently occupies about 490.000 m² of EU 20.000 20000 NOMY office space (170k EC, 300k other, 20k facilities), 10% 10000 of Brussels’ jobs is related to EU 0 and plans to expand with about 390.000 m² (230k of which a third is directly at the EU and two-third jobs in related fields. 13% EC, 10k other, 40k facilities) to almost 1 million m² jobs at the EU of Brussels’ GDP generated by international companies jobs at EU-related org. in total, the European institutions occupy 1,75 million € 3 jobs at 2000 international companies m² office space, which is half of the total occupied generated for every €1 spent office space in Brussels, and a quarter of the total The European Union generating triple its expenses as income in Brussels. available office space running costs of the EU are €2 billion per year

OFFICE SPACE

17

thesis.indd 17 08/04/2011 14:54:28 map showing Brussels and its most

important road connections, in 1837

juxtaposition of vernacular ‘European’

architecture with contemporary office buildings by the European Union

Rue de la Loi on a rainy day

18

thesis.indd 18 08/04/2011 14:54:29 across urban hierarchies since it is now very global, pre 1956 1956 - 1969 1969 - 1978 1978 - 1989 1989 - 1991 European, Belgian and local at the same time. This past 1991 small city is constantly under heavy pressure from the

2007). In short, Brussels was characterised as a neutral

gardens in its interior. It resulted in a green residential and smaller node in the well integrated network of environment, in which the Leopold Park, the northwest European metropolises. Cinquantennaire Park and the Square Frere-Orban and Because of the initial debate around the issue, a Meeus acted as green public spaces. provisional system was set up where the institutions would temporarily take up residence in other such continuous expansion of EU offices and activities; its development i n t o t h e e u q u a r t e r ‘neutral’ cities like Strasbourg and Luxembourg. When population is rapidly internationalizing; and its service In the 1950s, the post-war European Zeitgeist led Brussels was deemed as the most appropriate city, the economy is becoming global” to the forming of several international communities other cities had already settles themselves in a hosting (Baeten, 2001). between countries in Europe. One of them was role. This is the reason the current situation is still a the European Coal and Steel Community, between multi-capital organisation. n e t w o r k a n a l y s i s o f b r u s s e l s six countries [see map] in Northwest Europe. This The presence of the European Union can be clearly trading community soon formed the basis of what in After the Belgium goverment assigning new office discerned when regarding the infrastructural 1993 officially came to be the European Union. This space to the east of the centre, the European networks. On three levels of interurban infrastructure political body currently encompasses 27 member Commission, the Council of Europe and part of the – highways, rail network and airport – its influence is states, and ensures free movement of people and European Parliament took up seat in a number of significant. The diagram of Brussels’ connections can goods, services and capital (EU core, Europa.eu). newly constructed offices around the Rue Belliard. be abstracted into the city’s three clear ring roads (the The choice for a capital and main seat of the As a result of the rapid expansion of the European governing institutions has been subject to heavy Union, the 1960s and 1970s showed an uncontrolled debate. The democcratic union between states and unprecedented expansion of office space in the demanded a decentralised system, which put pressure Leopold Quarter [see map]. on whichever city or country would be chosen as capital. This proces of unplanned commercial property

8 LANES A ‘Committee of Experts’ decided Brussels the most development has come to be known as Brusselisation 8 LANES appropriate host city. Reasons for this were: it being a (Harding, 2001) - and the Leopold Quarter is one of large and active metropolis without a congested centre the most famed examples of this phenomenon. The 2 LANES 4 LANES

or poor quality housing, direct consequence 8 LANES 6 LANES a vibrant economy, a “... [Brussels] cuts across urban for the street level 2 x 5 LANES 6 LANES strong integration in hierarchies since it is now very is summed up 8 LANES by [Photo 1]: the international transport 6 LANES global, European, Belgian and 6 LANES networks. next to this, indigenous urban 4 LANES as a smaller country local at the same time. This small tissue, complemented Belgium didn’t run the city is constantly under heavy by anonymous risk of developing a pressure from the continuous glass facades. As superior-nation status Guy Baeten states, in relation to the other expansion of EU offices and “... [Brussels] cuts countries (Demey, activities; its population is rapidly internationalizing; and its service economy is becoming global.” Guy Beaten, 2001

19

thesis.indd 19 08/04/2011 14:54:31 Europe transformed: map of

reachable places per time unit

five lane single direction road

through the quarter

RUE DE LA LOI

Rue de la Loi near the EU Commission 120x80m Building with busy traffic grid structure

PARC CINQUANTENNAIRE RUE BELLIARD

object city

RUE LUXEMBOURG

PARC LEOPOLD

20

thesis.indd 20 08/04/2011 14:54:34 outermost one is the actual highway), the north-south explains the 5 lanes that form these roads. known as the European Quarter because it houses the rail line crossing through the centre, roughly along office space of the European institutions. It stretches the line of the canal, and the airport on the northeast The train connection could be considered as one of from the pentagonal ring road to the east, until the periphery, closely linked with highway and train. the most important networks, embedding Brussels in monumental Parc Cinquanttennaire and the Parc the Northwest European metropolitan area. With this Leopold. Because of its clearly defined historic city wall, which network, the urban areas of Paris, London, the Ruhr The area can be characterised in two distinct was preserved by the transformation into a ring road Area and the Randstad are easily connected within 2 morphologies: an orthogonal grid structure of by King Leopold, the city’s road system is rather hours. This transforms the effective map of Europe about 120x80 m, which was the original residential concentric: three layers of ring roads, with radial and how it is experienced in time distance like in structure. Further to the east, the large office boulevards connecting them. These radial roads serve [Image 5]. developments of the European Union break up this the in- and outflux of car traffic for the ring roads. Brussels has three large stations: Brussels North, tissue, and form an object city in combination with When one regards the car intensity of the roads, it Central and South, of which the Central station acts undefined open spaces and the Leopold Park. as an important connector for the European Quarter. It is connected by the metro lines; the train and metro This differentiation in urban form also shows a map reveals the intense connection between Brussels’ functional distinction: the large objects are housing Central Station and the European Quarter, linking it the main seats of the major European institutions: the by about 5 metro lines [Image 6]. European Parliament, the European Commission and European Council. In turn, the grid provides space

LONDON AMSTERDAM When compared to the role of airports in the for smaller institutions, satellite offices of the major

RUHR AREA surrounding metropolitan areas, Brussels Airport institutions, and embassies and other companies. BRUSSES proves to actually be quite local – only 10% of Connecting to the discussion of the networks in the its traffic is transit or transfer (Brutrends, 2009). previous paragraphs, the two major car axes - Rue

PARIS Zaventem is an airport for local traffic – a logical Belliard and Rue de la Loi - transverse the area in east- explanation is the large amount of EU officials flying west direction, weaving together the two different reveals the nature of the connection to the east of the in and out of the city. The connection of the European morphologies. A third axis that does this too, but has Quarter to the airport is effective mainly through the a smaller infrastructural role, is the Rue Luxembourg, train connection from Gare du Luxembourg (under to the south of the other two. the EU Parliament building) in 30 minutes, and the highway, making it a 20 minute taxi drive (outside the infamous rush hour). e u r o p e a n c a p i t a l a n d s y m b i o s i s In Eurostars and Eurocities, Adrian Favell Summed up, the Leopold Quarter is embedded in a characterises a triad of urban cultures present in strong infrastructural networks. Firstly, the the road the current Europe (Favell, 2006). He sets up three system proves to be one of the most important radial types of cities: Amsterdam as the ‘cultural Eurocity’ axes to to the highway for the whole city. Secondly, – an urban area based for a large part on its cultural the metro system and train station link the area to heritage and subsequent tourism. Other examples the three main international train station of the city. of this are Paris or Rome. Then he determines the city centre – in the Leopold Quarter. Two five-lane Lastly, the Zaventem airport can be reached through economic Eurocity: London. It distinguishes itself by singe direction roads transverse the area. As [Photo 3] either road (20 minutes) or train connection (30 it being the economic heart of an immense region. show, the perception of these roads on street level is minutes). Other examples are German cities like Munchen or dominated by the abundance of cars. The car intensity the Ruhr Area. map shows, that these two roads together form one of The third category is the political city: Brussels. the most important arteries in and out of the city: Rue a g r i d p a t t e r n v s t h e o b j e c t c i t y Favell highlights a number of spin-off effects of the Belliard and Rue de la Loi. Apart from directly linking In order to get a further grip on what actually EU residency in the city, outlining its self-reinforcing the European Quarter to the larger infrastructure, the characterises the European Quarter, its structure effect as a political point of gravity. two roads provide an access to the highways and even should be considered. The Leopold quarter, built as to the airport for the most of inner Brussels. This also a three-storey residential neighbourhood [Photo x] is This typicifcation, still augmenting because of

21

thesis.indd 21 08/04/2011 14:54:34 public space near the Parilament

building at nighttime

proposal for new flag of Europe by

OMA/Rem Koolhaas

22

thesis.indd 22 08/04/2011 14:54:35 the expanding bodies of power wielders, political Based on the current atmosphere of the area as a in ‘just’ a city; its original fabric and function have institutions and lobbyists, offers not Brussels itself lifeless office district, a general critique is spreading been complemented and even replaced by a global to have an iconic image, but also provides an on the current situation. In this direction, a certain culture - a culture that reinforces ad expands itself, opportunity for the European Union to provide an decentralisation of functions is often proposed (Hein, on the one hand creating a strong integration in image for what an outspoken politic public space can 2006). Current policy shows this networks by the presence be for the city. direction, explained in [Diagram x]: of infrastructure, but on In 2001, a debate was (re-)opened regarding the the introduction of a polynuclear “In the European the other hand creating a nature of a capital of the European Union and its system of housing the EU in Brussels. Quarter there is an monocultural district. This physical manifestations. Apart from a lively debate It would create a network throughout opportunity for the is an effect harmful for both and the realisation of the topic’s complexity, certain the city, of points with distinct the identity of the European characterisations regarding the space of a European European character. In this policy, the EU to show what Union, as well as the city of capital were made. Rem Koolhaas posed the necessity European Quarter itself is released an outspoken public Brussels and its inhabitants. for a European icon, in order to position it in the from part of the pressure of office space for politics can In the Euopean Quarter there global international landscape. In this case, Brussels space. is an opportunity for the EU should house a monument for celebrating Europe. In mean for the city.” to show what an outspoken public space for politics can The emergence of a [...] p u b l i c s p a c e a t m o s p h e r e mean for the city. polycentric capital, is not The current state of the image of the Leopold Quarter is rather an absolute status quo. Among many opion The next chapter will deal with a proposed strategy the result of an explicit surveys amongst citizens, the Quarter is regarded as for the area. In it, a redevelopment of the public space policy, but rather of the an office area, where ordinary citizen have little or no is proposed, as a backbone for the reintegration of particularities of the business. the Leopold Quarter with the city. By proposing a As a result of the above mentioned Brusselisation in number of key urban projects, this strategy will be creation and formation the 1960s and 1970s, a citizen initiative group was elaborated. of the EU in response founded in 1982. The GAQ (Groupe d’Animation du to the interests of the Quartier Europeen) forms a non-profic counterweight to the expanding office developments and the threat member states. of losing all spatial qualities of the public space and Carola Hein, 2006 buildings in the area. This image is confirmed by the image the streets give this, its identity is polyform; a combination of its 27 past office hours: a deserted space, closed off from members. For this, his office designed a new European interior activity by glass facades of the surrounding flag that would represent the new situation of Europe offices – often mimicking and reinforcing the look of [see Image x]. emptiness [Photo x]. Umberto Eco characterises the EU as a soft institution, lacking a power hierarchy. Relating to this network

politics is his notion of a ‘soft’ capital. According c o n c l u s i o n to Eco, the EU should reinforce its position as a The particular topics reviewed here in this chapter - network of identities; one should in this case not the nature and development of the residency of the speak about one absolute capital, but rather a hybrid EU, the historical context of the area, the integration and integrated system in which a network can of the area in surrounding networks, the monoculture function (Zucchinni, 2006; Prodi & Verhofstadt, 2001). of offices and its effect on public space, and the debate This defies the notion of Brussels as an outspoken about the Leopold Quarter as a European capital - European Capital. outline the principal characteristics and problems of the area. The notion of concentration of ‘capital functions’ in It has become clear that the Leopold Quarter has the European Quarter is often discussed and criticised. become a lot more complex as ‘just’ a neighbourhood

23

thesis.indd 23 08/04/2011 14:54:35 24

thesis.indd 24 08/04/2011 14:54:35 04urban strategy

As elaborated in the previous chapter, the relation Although the offices seem to be the stage of the and sometimes windy. Moreover, it contrasts with of the European institutions with the city of Brus- dynamism of European political developments, the identity of the European Union as a non-hier- sels can be said to be highly problematic.There is the public space within the area explicitly lacks archical political entity. Europe as a polycentral an obvious lack of definition in terms of identity such activity – any activity, really. The daily high- network, unhampered by a classical power orders and position of the European Union in Brussels. lights of urban activity could be summed up by [more about this in the conclusion of chapter 2]. The rapid developments of European collabora- three particular and encapsulated moments: the tions in the last 60 years has led to an expanding morning rush hour, lunchtime, and the evening but decentralised European government, housed rush hour. Outside these times, the streets are Complementary to the characteristics of the case in a generic office complex pasted over a former deserted. This describes the second main problem: study area in Brussels, a number of themes that residential neighbourhood in a culturally very the monoculture of office functions deprives were discerned in the start-up of this project, the defined city. the public space of any liveliness (2). research on changing public space. As discussed The previous two chapters have introduced a num- in [chapter 2], four themes about public space can ber of themes an problem observations, regarding On the one hand a spin-off effect of this monocul- be concluded as considerations or dualities that contemporary urban public space and the Euro- ture of offices, and on the other hand a historically emerge in the current debate about cities, globali- pean Quarter. This chapter summarises the most important route for the entire centre of Brussels, sation and infrastructure. relevant problems, and synthesises these into a is third problem characterising the area: heavy strategy for the public space. infrastructure dominating the public spaces Out of these themes, urban identity, decentralisa- (3) – most notably two five-lane single-direction tion polycentralisation and collectivisation are p r o b l e m s u m m a r y roads, Rue Belliard and Rue de la Loi. Together particularly relevant. Urban identity (1) in the As Baeten (2001) states, these 60 years of uncon- they form one of the primary connections to the case of the European Quarter is very literally the trolled office expansion without any governing Brussels ring road and the airport. The presence of invasion of the EU in the 1960s into the existing strategy, is characteristic for the politically com- this infrastructure disconnects the public space residential fabric of the city. Taking over to an plex governmental situation – where about 5 levels with the human scale. extent that there is almost no dwellings left in the of legislation are involved in planning the Euro- area, a definite conflict can be observed. pean Quarter. This is the first direct problem of the The fourth, rather more soft aspect depriving the Polycentralisation (2) refers to the layout of the European Quarter: the constant need for expan- character of the European Quarter from coming contemporary urban space from infrastructural sion of office space because of the expanding to fruition, is the monumentality of the urban nodes or socio-cultural centralities outwards. EU (1). spaces through the continuity of the axes (4). This is happening effectively through the large in This orginated in the development of the former and outflux of ‘eurocrats’ in Brussels, but still lacks A number of reasons can be given for the current residential area, based on a marching field in the clear definition in the articulation of public space. deficits of the European Quarter – but the most hills with a straight road leading up to it. The open Space for these nodes to grow and develop is nec- important basis is the observation that becomes and grand character it had when occupied with essary, in order to let the polycentral city function. clear from all who discuss the quarter: the area is high class, three-storey high residences was quite Collectivisation (3) as a theme deals with the a ‘dead’ office district, devoid of any liveliness or fitting – but now has its repercussions for the re- border between the private and the public domain. urban activity. sulting space between the office blocks as too large The urban public space explicitly is a key space in

25

thesis.indd 25 08/04/2011 14:54:35 this debate; to what extent is place still public? of identities (temporary, global, or immutably road, before the object-based morphology of the What determines its publicness, and should this embedded in the city), and the multitude of func- large EU buildings. A differentiation of public en- aspect always be guarded to remain present? In tions that belong here. The European Quarter as a vironments is necessary to regenerate the quarter. the European Quarter, the office monoculture has true neighbourhood of Brussels city, embedded in [footnote: For a further analysis of morphology, almost eradicated this existence of a collective the urban fabric. see Chapter x]. public space, since there is hardly any confronta- tion of different groups in society. f r o m f l a t n e s s t o a polycentral Diagram [x] above shows the propsed abstract n e t w o r k zoning plan; the old situation consisted of a So the aim of this intervention project is defined This position on the atmosphere of the public homogenous texture of glass office blocks with as such: to redefine the existing public space ap- space is mirrored in the flatness of the structure car-dominated streets inbetween them; the new propriate to the expression of the European Union of the Leopold Quarter: a flatness in program situation positions a reorganisation. The first as a political entity, addressing diversity and (the office monoculture), a flatness in distinction initiator of the proposed differentiation are liveliness. An integrated, diverse, global and local, between type of streets and a flatness in street the centralities of two important axes running polycentral neighbourhood. facades and building differentiation. Levels of through the quarter. Secondly, the locations where hierarchy are missing in the area: a continuous a potential for centralities is present on the axes strip of glass facades. As a result, the emergence of are extrapolated to form anchorpoints. The start p r o p o s a l centralities in the public space is lacking, mainly of the axes is from the ring road, an existing set of In order to particularly readdress the character- in the grid pattern directly to the east of the ring nodes in itself. The axes themselves then run into istics of a clean glass office district with only a the fabric of the Leopold quarter, not as an ongo- ing set of glass facades, but as a rhythm of nodes, leading the urban stroller from one centre point to the next. This way, a spatial sequence will exist like it is present in the inner city [See map x] - a logical sequence of spaces. The set of nodes in [diagram x] is based on exist- ing centralities, like the historic Place du Luxem- bourg, the Schumann roundabout with its large office buildings next to it, but also the crossroads of the axes with the ring road that mark the entrance of the European Quarter. Next to this, smaller nodes are located around metro entrances 9-to-5 working inhabitation, and liminal public and significant crossroads. space that is dominated by the presence of car On the one hand these nodes are extrapolations infrastructure, a new strategy for the public space of existing centralities - in some cases they are in the area is proposed. What is needed here, is an actually added. For instance at the end of the mid- exterior public environment that appreciates the dle axis, the Rue de la Loi, a new centrality will be multitude of infrastructural modes, the multitude located, to terminate the axis itself like happens

26

thesis.indd 26 08/04/2011 14:54:36 with the other two. The termination of the axes is at one of the three inner city thematic squares: the political (Schumann), the nostalgic (Luxembourg), and the interactive (Eu- ropean Forum).

The previously addressed lack of real public space

in the area and the lack of functions other than european quarter offices make up the core of the new network of public spaces. By means of an overall strategy, three type of new spaces are developed: Firstly, a pair of pedestrian-friendly boulevards where in- frastructure is reorganised for public functions (1). Secondly, a set of semi-public spaces in the form of new interior of the urban blocks, being opened up and given to the city to be reused, at the same time creating a environment for residential use in the area (2). Thirdly, a forum square at the end of the Belliard axis, in between the large European buildings, providing a new centrality that ad- dresses both the local functions (EU) as well as for the larger city inhabitants (3). URBAN BOULEVARD PROJECT #1

URBAN BOULEVARD BLOCK TRANSFORMATION PLAN 1:1000 In these paragraphs, we will treat the first two PROJECT #2 intervention projects - in a relatively abstract man- ner – and how they relate to the overal strategy for

the network of public spaces. In the next chapter, URBAN BOULEVARD SECTION 1:200 the third project will be treated more extensively.

EUROPEAN FORUM PROJECT #3 PUBLIC LANDSCAPE SECTION 1:500 PROFILE SECTION 1:1000

27

thesis.indd 27 08/04/2011 14:54:40 RUE RUE de la BELL LOI IARD

RUE RUE de la BELL LOI IARD

RUE RUE de la BELL LOI IARD

RUE RUE de la BELL LOI IARD

p r o j e c t 1 u r b a n b o u l e v a r d s The first project for the european quarter encompasses the redevelopment of two major axes. Currently burdened with heavy five-lane traffic arteries, the new situation proposes the separation of interurban and local traffic. This way, the street level is reopened for public life.

Together with the activation of the plinth of the buildings with public functions, the new boulevards will start to act as new centralities in the quarter. 30 80

18+m

5-18m 1:2

0-5m

P 30 80

18+m

5-18m 1:2

0-5m

P 28

thesis.indd 28 08/04/2011 14:55:03 p r o j e c t 2 r e c a p t u r e d b l o c k s The transformation of the current flat and solid office blocks is the second key project. The original dimensions meant for three storey residential use have densified so that the courtyards are closed off and (partially built).

The project proposes an increase in size for the interior courtyards by combining two blocks. This will open up the space for a secluded residential atmosphere. By reorganising the volume of the block, new housing can be added to promote functional diversity in the european quarter.

p r o j e c t 3 e u r o p e a n f o r u m The third project for the european quarter is a new square amidst the main EU office buildings. In it, a number of functions are embedded - not only offices for the EU, but also for the city, like shopping, restaurants, a metro station and a cinema.

The european forum explores a new method of integration of functions with the public level: by folding and creasing the sloping geometry of the site, and ‘stuffing’ the program underneath, new spatial relations are formed that generate publicness.

29

thesis.indd 29 08/04/2011 14:55:09 IPE 270

top layer insulation + steel profiles + surface material + railing construction

IPE 180

floor layer steel profile sheets + poured concrete

steel profile and insulated double glass + frame glass handrail steel profile

wood block

laminated wood 1 laminated wood

2

3

4

5

insulated double glass + frame steel profile bearing layer hollow steel columns + IPE beams

steel joint connection slab with bolts

installation & ventilation steel joint connection slab with bolts

facade/level joint detail 1:5 roof/facade joint detail 1:5

roof package, consisting of roof package, consisting of steel 300x300mm column 1 brick stone 50x64x200 mm 1 concrete tiles 600x50mm 2 stabilised sand 150mm 2 hard insulation 100mm with water resistent foil 3 hard insulation 100mm with water resistent foil 3 IPE160 bearing tiling 4 steel and concrete floor 200mm 4 steel and concrete floor 200mm 5 IPE400 beam with circular cutouts (d=250mm) 5 IPE400 beam with circular cutouts (d=250mm)

30 J I B thesis.indd 30 08/04/2011 14:55:15

level stone/grass detail 1:10

grass roof package, consisting of 1 grass slabs with stabilised sand 2 drainage mats 30mm 3 hard insulation 50mm with water resistent foil 4 cement floor 5omm 5 steel and concrete floor 200mm

skylight stone/glass detail 1:10

opaque glass skylight 1 channel shaped glass 40x160mm 2 channel glass profiles 3 tl light 4 acid etched glass single layer

roof/facade open air detail 1:10

roof package, consisting of 1 concrete tiles 600x50mm 2 pebbles 3 water resistent foil 4 steel and concrete floor 200mm 5 IPE400 beam with circular cutouts (d=250mm)

level/staircase joint detail 1:10

roof package, consisting of 1 roof package 400mm 2 standardised concrete staircase 3 natural stone end tile 05reflection/recommendations

As a project, the European Quarter in Brussels is far the debate around the European Quarter has become of view to a perhaps somewhat more well-organised from finished. Questions of identity and branding as more and more focused around the polarisation that society, where people in general enjoy the feeling of a political space make it rather different than another has taken place towards a monoculture, as discussed the public condition, only really needing private space office district in a medium-sized European metropolis. in chapter 3. when sleeping or bathing. Looking at the stakeholders and actors in the game of developing this district reveals the unique approach of One of the most direct consequences of this approach This relates back to a broader interest of the author: the proposal as treated in this paper. soon turned out to be the maximalisation of the public research into the utopian condition: architectural From the point of view of the European organisations, domain. Quantitatively, the current projects cause vision where mankind puts its wildest dreams and there is a very pragmatic need for office space. So far, about a tripling of the amount of real public space - worst nightmares. this demand has been met by the rigorous movement that is, continuously accessible and where all normal Actually a very real proposal, this project has its that has been concluded in the previous chapter as one laws of the city are applicable. utopian character in the fact that its assumes a certain of the main threats for the character of the area. The One can easily raise the question about the desire towards a lot of pedestrian friendly outside and point of view of the city is tangled up in multi-leveled desirability of this large amount of public space; public spaces. political hierarchy and (dis)organisation, and the point from the point of view of safety and property, the of the few citizens of the area (and surroundings) is European institutions for one might not be that eager mainly aimed at historicising the area into its former to ‘publicize’ all interiors of the blocks, and spaces L Daniel Swakman state. around their main office buildings. april 2011

In this project, the aim has been to take the public However, ‘maximizing public domain’ seemed to space, almost as a design object, and approaching benefit the value of the project, in the sense that it the situation from that point of view. On the one opened the possibility of thinking about different hand, this has its roots in the initial research topic, expressions of a public domain, in one proposal. In discussing contemporary changes in the public this sense, the strategy for a polycentral network and domain - elaborated in chapter 2. On the other hand, its hierarchy of spaces (see chapter 4) offers a point

31

thesis.indd 31 08/04/2011 14:55:19 cncrt brck wd stn mtl grn cmpst

32

thesis.indd 32 08/04/2011 14:55:22 bibliography

books brussels-a-soft-capital.html

Auge, M. - Non-places: introduction to an Castells, M. - Informationalism, Networks and the

anthropoloy of supermodernity, Verso Books, 1992 Network Society: A Theoretical Blueprint (chapter Brussels, Capital of Europe -

Networks, Society and Communcation Technology), Demey, T.

Castells, M. - The Information Age: Economy, Society in: The Network Society: A Cross-Cultural http://www.badeaux.be/

and Culture - Vol 1: The Rise of the Network City, Perspective, 2004 Publications/Pub9/Pub9-

Wiley-Blackwell, 1996 Presentation.html

Drewe, P. - ICT and Urban Design, a Paradigm

Foucault, M. - Discipline and Punish, Gallimard, 1975 Challenge, 2001 Brusselisation - Harding

http://www.time.com/time/arts/

Hajer, M. & Reijndorp, A. - In Search of New Public Foucault, M. - Of Other Spaces: Heterotopia, 1967 article/0,8599,100115,00.html

Domain, NAi Publishers, 2001 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Jenkins, H. - Convergence Culture: Where Old and Brusselization

Orwell, G. - 1984, Secker and Warburg, 1949 New Media Collide (excerpt), 2006

The Seat of the Council of the

Sorkin, M. - Variations on a Theme Park: The New Manovich, L. - The Poetics of Augmented Space, 2004 European Union - ena

American City and the End of Public Space, Hill & http://www.ena.

Wang, 1992 Oosterling, H. - Intermediale Esthetiek - over lu/?lang=2&doc=5631

het politico-esthetisch belang van het ‘inter’, in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_and_the_

Architecture, Modernity and the Public Sphere: Itinera. Onderzoekstrajecten voor de studie van de European_Union

An Everyday Triad (Introduction in Architectural hedendaagse kunst, Academic press, Gent 2003

Positions) - T. Avermaete, K. Havik, H. Teerds, 2009 One seat for the European

Sassen, S. - Towards a Sociology of Information Parliament

Non-places: an introduction to supermodernity - Technology, in Current Sociology, May 2002 http://www.oneseat.eu/

Marc Augé, 1995

Moore, C.W. (1965) - You Have to Pay for the Public What do we want to protect? -

The Reconstruction of Space and Time: Mobile Life, in Architectural Positions, SUN, 2009 Groupe d’Animation du EUQ in

Communcation Practices (introduction) - Rich Ling Brussels (citizen group GAQ)

& Scott W. Campbell, 2009 de Solà-Morales, M. (1992) - Public Spaces, Collective http://www.gaq.be/What-do-we-

Spaces, in Architectural Positions, SUN, 2009 want-to-protect.html?lang=fr

articles

Avermaete, T. - Making things public – the multi- websites

modal public space as a new Dutch design challenge, Brussels, a soft capital - Zucchini

in Dutch Design Yearbook, NAi Publishers, 2009 http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/18468/

33

thesis.indd 33 08/04/2011 14:55:23 34

thesis.indd 34 08/04/2011 14:55:23 appendices

t h e m a t i c l i t e r a t u r e d i a g r a m s ICT and digital networks

1995 2002 2002 2006 2009 2009 PAUL SASKIA LEV HENRY LING & TOM DREWE SASSEN MANOVICH JENKINS CAMPBELL AVERMAETE “Convergence “The Reconstruction “Making Things “ICT and Urban “Towards a Sociology Culture: Where Old of Space and Time: Public: the multi- Design, A Paradigm of Information “The Poetics of and New Media Mobile Commu- modal public space Challenge” Technology” Augmented Space” Collide” nication Practices” as a new Dutch D...”

• EMERGING VIRTUALITY • DIGITAL NETWORKS • MULTI-DIMENSIONALITY • CONVERGENCE CULTURE • SPATIAL FLEXIBILITY • HISTORICAL CENTRES IDENTITY a citizen has a choice between main properties: decentralised augmentation and monitor- flow of content across plat- mobile communication doesn’t public domain formed by physical and virtual informa- access, and simultaneity ing add new dimensions to 3D forms & migration of users free one from the demands of commercial logic, to compete tion acccess and buildings (i.e. SEE CASTELLS “NETWORK SOCIETY” space, making it 5D between platforms for desired others, but makes an individual in global experience economy library stacks vs servers) experience more available and flexible to • HYPERMOBILITY • AUGMENTED SPACE its (social) surroundings • GRASSROOTS MEDIA

• ORGANISING URBAN COMPLEXITY instantaneous circulation of physical space overlaid with • PARTICIPATORY CULTURE SEE CASTELLS “NODE NETWORK SUCCESS” setting up the framework, modern planning complexity data as result of digitalising dynamically changing infor- interactivity between pro- • ENCAPSULATION users themselves develop it uses the ‘and’: concentration infrastructure mation duces & consumer, to form mobile technology (phones, (Facebook, MySpace) and deconcentration, multi- consumer’s own personaly media players) often leads to and monofunctionality • KNOWLEDGE TYPES • 1990S CLAIM mythology shutting out the environment • VIRTUAL DOMINANCE SEE DE SOLA-MORALES “EXPERIENCE PUBLIC SPACE” two types: standardised virtual spaces replace physical - by cocooning, interfacing & thought of the 1990s: virtual • THREE TYPES OF NETWORKS (quantifiable, databased) and space • COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE footprinting space to take over physical technical networks (infrastruc- interpretative (subjective, not everyone can hold all space totally ture like roads and internet), need for diverse context) • 2000S CLAIM information at the same time, • SPATIAL CONSCIOUSNESS functional networks (produc- person using VR on multime- so discussing of fragments interacting with communica- • AUGMENTED SPACES tion and consumption), and dia device at airport between people brings mass tions media invokes an eleva- physical space expanded with urban household network (the of knowledge tion from direct environment (transparent) virtual technol- usage of one and two) • DYNAMIC DATA SEE HAJER & REIJNDORP “PRODUCES PLACES” ogy video surveillance, cellspace technologies, video displays/ • MULTI-MODALITY screens public space needs generic- ity to be multi-modal; design now doesn’t focus on multi- modality of physical-virtual space

• DESIGN TENSION generic vs specific - ideas are generic while design is always specific

35

thesis.indd 35 08/04/2011 14:55:24 1965 1967 1992 1995 2001 2001 2001 2001 2004 2009 MANUEL CHARLES W MICHEL DE SOLÀ- MARC HAJER & HAJER & HAJER & HAJER & MANUEL AVERMAETE, MOORE FOUCAULT MORALES AUGÉ REIJNDORP REIJNDORP REIJNDORP REIJNDORP CASTELLS HAVIK & TEERDS “Informationalism, “Architecture, “Non-places: an Networks and the Modernity and the introduction to “You Have to Pay for “Of Other Spaces: “Public Spaces, “In Search of New “In Search of New “In Search of New “In Search of New Network Society: A Public Sphere: An supermodernity” the Pubic Life” Heterotopia” Collective Spaces” Public Domain” Ch.1 Public Domain” Ch.2 Public Domain” Ch.3 Public Domain” Ch.4 theoretical blueprint” Everyday Triad”

• GENERIC DWELLINGS • DESANCTIFICATION OF SPACE • PUBLIC-PRIVATE • URBAN DECENTRING • NON-PLACES • PULL OF THE PERIPHERY • PUBLIC LANDSCAPES • ZERO-FRICTION PUBLIC SPACE • NETWORK SOCIETY • STAGES OF MODERNITY current housing is becoming time has been Enlightened balanced city and municipali- taking place in three aspects: problem of ‘non-places’ in cur- emergent urban spaces that 6 types: erected (man-made), in the network society every- a society whose social struc- 1 amazement at technology more generic, less relation to and desanctified, but space sation define border clearly 1. cities measured in connec- rent urban sphere: functional are characterised by accessi- displayed (temptation), ex- one puts together their own ture is made of networks pow- 2 liberating and progressive po- their context still remains mystical tivity to infrastructure laid-out transit zones that lack bility rather than centrality alted (excitement), exposed public sphere, but that ex- ered by IT communication tential - modernism

• FUNCTION OF PUBLIC SPACE 2. television has replaced the a dwelling identity (reflection), coloured (immi- cludes diversity SEE SASSEN “DIGITAL NETWORKS” 3 individualisation & mobility

• PAID PUBLIC SPACE • HETEROTOPIAS to give urban character to traditional hearth in the home • PLACE & SPACE grants), marginalised (devi- • HIERARCHY VS CENTRELESSNESS Disneyland is most important real spaces that incorporate all building and places that with- 3. individual can live in dif- • CULTURAL MOBILITY space - a rational, functional ance) • LIMINAL SPACES traditional layout of human • PUBLIC SPHERE IN LIFE enactment of public space, sites of a culture out it would be only private ferent networks that have no need for places that facilitate infill of area balancing between two (or society organisation very essential because it is place

but it is not free 1. crisis heterotopias & of de- (to urbanise the private) direct physical relation ‘cultural mobility’ - where peo- place - characterisation based • PAROCHALISATION multiple) specific functions, bureaucreatic and hierarchic where people can be seen and viation ple have new experiences and on atmoshpere, history and forming of rural identity in ur- thus becoming complex and - with technological develop- heard - and appearance consti-

• EXPRESS COMPLEX FUNCTIONS 2. changing over time • COLLECTIVE SPACE • EMPIRICAL NON-PLACES change of perspective memories ban sphere; but public space relevant (ie. marketplace) ment no longer necessary tutes reality public space should be 3. juxtaposing incompatibili- hybrid form,not public not spaces of circulation, con- needs to facilitate running into

formed by contemporary ties private - ie. public space for sumption and communication • PRODUCED PLACES the unexpected • VARIED AUTONOMOUS SPACES • NODE NETWORK SUCCESS • SUBURBAN PUBLIC SPHERE public functions, like monu- 4. accumulating or letting flow particular use, or private spac- as a result of market demand, other approach: very acces- because of three factors: flex- enacted through automobiles, SEE AVERMAETE “HISTORICAL CENTRES IDENTITY” SEE AVERMAETE “GRASSROOTS MEDIA” ments of mobility (parkings, time es acquiring collective use • ANTHROPOLOGICAL PLACE often thematised - but there • FUNCTIONALISATION sible specific places, forming a ibility, scalability and surviv- privatisation and monofunction- highways) 5. opening vs closing inscriptions of a social rela- is need for imperfection and non-places are often very kind of heterotopia ability ality - the shopping mall

6. function in relation to re- • PUBLIC PRIVATE-OBJECTS tionship or a collective history confrontation in public space much just fulfilling demand SEE LING & CAMPBELL “SPATIAL FLEXIBILITY” maining space, sometimes elements of private objects influence human behaviour to facilitate diversity and brief • END OF ENGAGED CITIZENS

counteracting (street facades, building lob- SEE SASSEN “KNOWLEDGE TYPES” spontaneity juxtaposition of de Sola- through processes of globalisa- bies) that have a public value • GLOBALISATION MATTERS Morales and Michael Sorkin - tion, hegemony of private do-

current globality produces • THE NETWORK SOCIETY about the publicness of shop- main and disneyfication

• EXPERIENCE PUBLIC SPACE homogenisation and exclu- instead of having one absolute ping malls recognising the complex char- sion, but frontiers don’t have centre node, urban organisa- • PUBLIC SPACE WITHOUT URBANITY

acter as one of experience, to mean compartmentalisation tion more as polycentric, with • AESTHETICISATION public sphere no longer needs rather than prejudice and thus when properly recognised people forming their own the design of zero-friction fixed location, no more classic exclusion world between their choice of environments - about ‘fun’ and urbanity

• VIRTUAL META-CITY SEE DREWE “THREE TYPES OF NETWORKS” nodes ‘looking good’ interconnectedness of me- Celebration, Florida SEE DREWE “ORGANISING URBAN COMPLEXITY” tropolis in decision-making • SPACE OF FLOWS and economics (Paul Virilio) vs culture of local places - about speed, mobility and transiency

36

thesis.indd 36 08/04/2011 14:55:26 appendices

t h e m a t i c l i t e r a t u r e d i a g r a m s changing urban public space

1965 1967 1992 1995 2001 2001 2001 2001 2004 2009 MANUEL CHARLES W MICHEL DE SOLÀ- MARC HAJER & HAJER & HAJER & HAJER & MANUEL AVERMAETE, MOORE FOUCAULT MORALES AUGÉ REIJNDORP REIJNDORP REIJNDORP REIJNDORP CASTELLS HAVIK & TEERDS “Informationalism, “Architecture, “Non-places: an Networks and the Modernity and the introduction to “You Have to Pay for “Of Other Spaces: “Public Spaces, “In Search of New “In Search of New “In Search of New “In Search of New Network Society: A Public Sphere: An supermodernity” the Pubic Life” Heterotopia” Collective Spaces” Public Domain” Ch.1 Public Domain” Ch.2 Public Domain” Ch.3 Public Domain” Ch.4 theoretical blueprint” Everyday Triad”

• GENERIC DWELLINGS • DESANCTIFICATION OF SPACE • PUBLIC-PRIVATE • URBAN DECENTRING • NON-PLACES • PULL OF THE PERIPHERY • PUBLIC LANDSCAPES • ZERO-FRICTION PUBLIC SPACE • NETWORK SOCIETY • STAGES OF MODERNITY current housing is becoming time has been Enlightened balanced city and municipali- taking place in three aspects: problem of ‘non-places’ in cur- emergent urban spaces that 6 types: erected (man-made), in the network society every- a society whose social struc- 1 amazement at technology more generic, less relation to and desanctified, but space sation define border clearly 1. cities measured in connec- rent urban sphere: functional are characterised by accessi- displayed (temptation), ex- one puts together their own ture is made of networks pow- 2 liberating and progressive po- their context still remains mystical tivity to infrastructure laid-out transit zones that lack bility rather than centrality alted (excitement), exposed public sphere, but that ex- ered by IT communication tential - modernism

• FUNCTION OF PUBLIC SPACE 2. television has replaced the a dwelling identity (reflection), coloured (immi- cludes diversity SEE SASSEN “DIGITAL NETWORKS” 3 individualisation & mobility

• PAID PUBLIC SPACE • HETEROTOPIAS to give urban character to traditional hearth in the home • PLACE & SPACE grants), marginalised (devi- • HIERARCHY VS CENTRELESSNESS Disneyland is most important real spaces that incorporate all building and places that with- 3. individual can live in dif- • CULTURAL MOBILITY space - a rational, functional ance) • LIMINAL SPACES traditional layout of human • PUBLIC SPHERE IN LIFE enactment of public space, sites of a culture out it would be only private ferent networks that have no need for places that facilitate infill of area balancing between two (or society organisation very essential because it is place but it is not free 1. crisis heterotopias & of de- (to urbanise the private) direct physical relation ‘cultural mobility’ - where peo- place - characterisation based • PAROCHALISATION multiple) specific functions, bureaucreatic and hierarchic where people can be seen and viation ple have new experiences and on atmoshpere, history and forming of rural identity in ur- thus becoming complex and - with technological develop- heard - and appearance consti-

• EXPRESS COMPLEX FUNCTIONS 2. changing over time • COLLECTIVE SPACE • EMPIRICAL NON-PLACES change of perspective memories ban sphere; but public space relevant (ie. marketplace) ment no longer necessary tutes reality public space should be 3. juxtaposing incompatibili- hybrid form,not public not spaces of circulation, con- needs to facilitate running into formed by contemporary ties private - ie. public space for sumption and communication • PRODUCED PLACES the unexpected • VARIED AUTONOMOUS SPACES • NODE NETWORK SUCCESS • SUBURBAN PUBLIC SPHERE public functions, like monu- 4. accumulating or letting flow particular use, or private spac- as a result of market demand, other approach: very acces- because of three factors: flex- enacted through automobiles, SEE AVERMAETE “HISTORICAL CENTRES IDENTITY” SEE AVERMAETE “GRASSROOTS MEDIA” ments of mobility (parkings, time es acquiring collective use • ANTHROPOLOGICAL PLACE often thematised - but there • FUNCTIONALISATION sible specific places, forming a ibility, scalability and surviv- privatisation and monofunction- highways) 5. opening vs closing inscriptions of a social rela- is need for imperfection and non-places are often very kind of heterotopia ability ality - the shopping mall

6. function in relation to re- • PUBLIC PRIVATE-OBJECTS tionship or a collective history confrontation in public space much just fulfilling demand SEE LING & CAMPBELL “SPATIAL FLEXIBILITY” maining space, sometimes elements of private objects influence human behaviour to facilitate diversity and brief • END OF ENGAGED CITIZENS counteracting (street facades, building lob- SEE SASSEN “KNOWLEDGE TYPES” spontaneity juxtaposition of de Sola- through processes of globalisa- bies) that have a public value • GLOBALISATION MATTERS Morales and Michael Sorkin - tion, hegemony of private do- current globality produces • THE NETWORK SOCIETY about the publicness of shop- main and disneyfication

• EXPERIENCE PUBLIC SPACE homogenisation and exclu- instead of having one absolute ping malls recognising the complex char- sion, but frontiers don’t have centre node, urban organisa- • PUBLIC SPACE WITHOUT URBANITY acter as one of experience, to mean compartmentalisation tion more as polycentric, with • AESTHETICISATION public sphere no longer needs rather than prejudice and thus when properly recognised people forming their own the design of zero-friction fixed location, no more classic exclusion world between their choice of environments - about ‘fun’ and urbanity

• VIRTUAL META-CITY SEE DREWE “THREE TYPES OF NETWORKS” nodes ‘looking good’ interconnectedness of me- Celebration, Florida SEE DREWE “ORGANISING URBAN COMPLEXITY” tropolis in decision-making • SPACE OF FLOWS and economics (Paul Virilio) vs culture of local places - about speed, mobility and transiency

37

thesis.indd 37 08/04/2011 14:55:28 1998 2001 2001 2001 2001 2004 2004 2006 2006 JACOBS & GUY UMBERTO REM VERHOFSTADT WHITE, PURDY YANN ADRIAN CAROLA MAIER BAETEN ECO KOOLHAAS & PRODI & PADMORE GALL FAVELL HEIN “The Europeanisation “Brussel, “European identity: “The polycentric and of Brussels and the hoofdstedelijk construct, fact and opportunistic capital Urbanisation of “The soft European “The hard European “Brussels, capital of gewest voor 450 “Eurostars and fiction” “Europe, Inc.” of Europe” Europe” capital” capital” Europe” miljoen inwoners” Eurocities”

• POLITICAL FORM • CAPITAL SCALES • SERVER INSTEAD OF TREE • EXPRESSING EU IDENTITY • EU CAPITAL NOT NATIONAL • EUROPE LEADING • ALIEN INVASION • ECONOMICAL VS CULTURAL • DECENTRALISED INSTITUTIONS Europe as a super-state or Brussels functions as capital national capital’s identities are two ways: through commu- a European capital should not European companies play expanding need for office two modes of European de- EU has captial seats in 3 cit- loose association of nation- of Belgium, reigning colony of like trees, establishing hierar- nication (verbal/visual, ad- have to function in the same large part in economical top space resulted in uncontrolled velopment; both are present in ies since 1992, and agencies in states Congo, and capital of Europe - chies; the EU capital is not na- dressing diversity), or physical absolute and monumental way of the world, although not building of the EU quarter, los- EU’s history, mostly not at the 20 cities - could hamper daily a multi-scaled global place tional so should be more like a manifestation (evoking sym- as national capitals perceived as such ing respect for inhabitants same time work, but makes them more SEE SASSEN “DIGITAL NETWORKS” • IDENTITY AS A CONSTRUCT server in a network bolism) integrated in local culture

identity is a combination of a • AMBIVALENT POLITICS SEE CASTELLS “THE NETWORK SOCIETY” • CAPITAL IS REALITY • ECONOMICAL AMBITIONS • COMPLETE DECONCENTRATION • LOCAL & GLOBAL PEOPLE cultural historical basis and a exclusion and inclusion, polari- • NODE IN A NETWORK • THE EUROPEAN PROJECT in everyday practice, the EU two strategies to benefit from completely spreading institu- European quarter ‘used’ by • ORGANISING DECENTRALITY construction of ‘what it should sation and integration, poverty organising the city as a node approach of treating physical quarter already functions - Europe’s potential: creating tions throughout city(s), re- international travelling elite, instating a special ‘decentrali- be’ and prosperity - euQ not only in a network, not longer abso- symbolism most difficult in making policy and wielding Single Market, and exploiting specting existing tissue while attention for deeply sation office’, allowing decen- an island, but provides jobs in lute and hierarchical, but rela- context, but most relevant power capacity for innovation rooted middle-class lacks tral policy-making and con-

• THREE PROJECTS FOR EUROPE tertiary sector tive to other nodes (circle and path) • SYMBIOTIC JOBS EMERGE necting EU nodes

Europe as an important power • DECENTRALISED POWER • UNITY IN DIVERSITY every job at European or- • GLOBAL CITIES ARE LOCAL factor, ~ as a social entity for • ASPECTS OF GLOBALISATION • BRUSSELS’ FOYER CULTUREL • DYNAMIC IDENTITY stability does not mean the Europe’s greatest character- ganisation creates two jobs in Amsterdam, London, Brus- • CONNECTING LOCAL AND EU SEE HAJER & REIJNDORP “SPACE OF FLOWS” human rights and democracy, global financial trade, global Brussels as a capital shouldn’t expressing a EU identity that concentration of power in istic and opportunity: larg- other fields (tertiary); every sels, allowing global and mo- bring together public and and ~ as a status quo of exist- media, communication sys- focus on ‘hardware’ - but ‘soft- advocates differences Brussels - it fares well with est amount of diversity in the euro spent at EU organisation bile culture (mostly elite); but private stakeholders in single ing national states tems (internet), air traffic, ware’ makes the culture (ie. (stretched stars flag, member decentralisation world equalled by three elsewhere; bottom-up observation shows place - calls for architecture global consumption of prod- art, cinema, literature) colours flag) 13% of Brussels GDP comes presence of very local daily not only administrative, but

• ECONOMICAL IDEOLOGY ucts, homogenisation of cul- • NETWORKING • BRANDING EUROPE from international organisa- patterns also symbolic Europe not as a political ideol- tures, global migration flows, tool to prevent Tower of Babel strategies for developing tions ogy, but a unified economical world cities, foreign trade, syndrome in addressing dif- Europe’s (economical) role: field and a single market; has growing importance of inter- ferences; not trying to unite all establish Single Market, de- been the strongest so far national institutions under one denominator velop clear vision and brand- ing, encourage involvment in

• CULTURAL IDEOLOGY • RUES DE LA LOI & BELLIARD • EUQ LACKS ... all layers creation of a culturally defined cutting across urban fabric, current situation of EU in- identity; a supranational rights preventing integration tegration in the city is not a system; a EU citizenship good example; lack of com- SEE HAJER & REIJNDORP “CULTURAL MOBILITY” • BORDERLANDS munication, lack of coherent flea markets, avant-garde art architecture, lack of address- scenes and nightclubs ing citizen’s wishes

38

thesis.indd 38 08/04/2011 14:55:30 appendices

t h e m a t i c l i t e r a t u r e d i a g r a m s the European Union and Brussels

1998 2001 2001 2001 2001 2004 2004 2006 2006 JACOBS & GUY UMBERTO REM VERHOFSTADT WHITE, PURDY YANN ADRIAN CAROLA MAIER BAETEN ECO KOOLHAAS & PRODI & PADMORE GALL FAVELL HEIN “The Europeanisation “Brussel, “European identity: “The polycentric and of Brussels and the hoofdstedelijk construct, fact and opportunistic capital Urbanisation of “The soft European “The hard European “Brussels, capital of gewest voor 450 “Eurostars and fiction” “Europe, Inc.” of Europe” Europe” capital” capital” Europe” miljoen inwoners” Eurocities”

• POLITICAL FORM • CAPITAL SCALES • SERVER INSTEAD OF TREE • EXPRESSING EU IDENTITY • EU CAPITAL NOT NATIONAL • EUROPE LEADING • ALIEN INVASION • ECONOMICAL VS CULTURAL • DECENTRALISED INSTITUTIONS Europe as a super-state or Brussels functions as capital national capital’s identities are two ways: through commu- a European capital should not European companies play expanding need for office two modes of European de- EU has captial seats in 3 cit- loose association of nation- of Belgium, reigning colony of like trees, establishing hierar- nication (verbal/visual, ad- have to function in the same large part in economical top space resulted in uncontrolled velopment; both are present in ies since 1992, and agencies in states Congo, and capital of Europe - chies; the EU capital is not na- dressing diversity), or physical absolute and monumental way of the world, although not building of the EU quarter, los- EU’s history, mostly not at the 20 cities - could hamper daily a multi-scaled global place tional so should be more like a manifestation (evoking sym- as national capitals perceived as such ing respect for inhabitants same time work, but makes them more SEE SASSEN “DIGITAL NETWORKS” • IDENTITY AS A CONSTRUCT server in a network bolism) integrated in local culture identity is a combination of a • AMBIVALENT POLITICS SEE CASTELLS “THE NETWORK SOCIETY” • CAPITAL IS REALITY • ECONOMICAL AMBITIONS • COMPLETE DECONCENTRATION • LOCAL & GLOBAL PEOPLE cultural historical basis and a exclusion and inclusion, polari- • NODE IN A NETWORK • THE EUROPEAN PROJECT in everyday practice, the EU two strategies to benefit from completely spreading institu- European quarter ‘used’ by • ORGANISING DECENTRALITY construction of ‘what it should sation and integration, poverty organising the city as a node approach of treating physical quarter already functions - Europe’s potential: creating tions throughout city(s), re- international travelling elite, instating a special ‘decentrali- be’ and prosperity - euQ not only in a network, not longer abso- symbolism most difficult in making policy and wielding Single Market, and exploiting specting existing tissue while attention for deeply sation office’, allowing decen- an island, but provides jobs in lute and hierarchical, but rela- context, but most relevant power capacity for innovation rooted middle-class lacks tral policy-making and con-

• THREE PROJECTS FOR EUROPE tertiary sector tive to other nodes (circle and path) • SYMBIOTIC JOBS EMERGE necting EU nodes

Europe as an important power • DECENTRALISED POWER • UNITY IN DIVERSITY every job at European or- • GLOBAL CITIES ARE LOCAL factor, ~ as a social entity for • ASPECTS OF GLOBALISATION • BRUSSELS’ FOYER CULTUREL • DYNAMIC IDENTITY stability does not mean the Europe’s greatest character- ganisation creates two jobs in Amsterdam, London, Brus- • CONNECTING LOCAL AND EU SEE HAJER & REIJNDORP “SPACE OF FLOWS” human rights and democracy, global financial trade, global Brussels as a capital shouldn’t expressing a EU identity that concentration of power in istic and opportunity: larg- other fields (tertiary); every sels, allowing global and mo- bring together public and and ~ as a status quo of exist- media, communication sys- focus on ‘hardware’ - but ‘soft- advocates differences Brussels - it fares well with est amount of diversity in the euro spent at EU organisation bile culture (mostly elite); but private stakeholders in single ing national states tems (internet), air traffic, ware’ makes the culture (ie. (stretched stars flag, member decentralisation world equalled by three elsewhere; bottom-up observation shows place - calls for architecture global consumption of prod- art, cinema, literature) colours flag) 13% of Brussels GDP comes presence of very local daily not only administrative, but

• ECONOMICAL IDEOLOGY ucts, homogenisation of cul- • NETWORKING • BRANDING EUROPE from international organisa- patterns also symbolic Europe not as a political ideol- tures, global migration flows, tool to prevent Tower of Babel strategies for developing tions ogy, but a unified economical world cities, foreign trade, syndrome in addressing dif- Europe’s (economical) role: field and a single market; has growing importance of inter- ferences; not trying to unite all establish Single Market, de- been the strongest so far national institutions under one denominator velop clear vision and brand- ing, encourage involvment in

• CULTURAL IDEOLOGY • RUES DE LA LOI & BELLIARD • EUQ LACKS ... all layers creation of a culturally defined cutting across urban fabric, current situation of EU in- identity; a supranational rights preventing integration tegration in the city is not a system; a EU citizenship good example; lack of com- SEE HAJER & REIJNDORP “CULTURAL MOBILITY” • BORDERLANDS munication, lack of coherent flea markets, avant-garde art architecture, lack of address- scenes and nightclubs ing citizen’s wishes

39

thesis.indd 39 08/04/2011 14:55:30 L DANIEL SWAKMAN

thesis.indd 40 08/04/2011 14:55:30