Quartier européen: a harmonious future

On an early afternoon in late summer, the Place Jourdan in Etterbeek is packed to the rafters. Not a free table to be found, hardly a chair to be rounded up. You'd think you were in a village square. a day of celebration. The lost visitor would be hard pressed to imagine that he has just plunged into right in the heart of the European quarter. The clothes are casual, the atmosphere even more so, and at the end of the square you can see the greenery of the magnificent Parc Léopold, with its Buttes Chaumont look and its pretty lake that invites you to take a stroll.

It all seems almost idyllic. However, a few hundred metres further on, the scenery changes radically. On Place Schumann and even more so on Rue de la Loi, the imposing buildings of the various European institutions give these noisy thoroughfares an air of soulless megalopolis. "The difficulty we're currently facing is how to successfully reconcile the institutions and the neighbourhood, which was originally residential."This is the aim of Tom Sanders, Director of Territorial Strategy at Perspective Brussels, a body whose aim is to shorten the time between decisions being taken and the implementation of urban projects, particularly in the European Quarter.

Created in 1837 on the initiative of King Leopold I, this district was originally named... Leopold. Throughout the 19th century, the area saw the construction of a number of beautiful, spacious homesIn those days, there were many parks, squares and green spaces to brighten up the streets and give the city a rural feel. Many parks, squares and green spaces brightened up the streets and gave the city a touch of the countryside. Then, in the second half of the 20th^e In the 19th century, the somewhat surreptitious installation of European institutions and certain private players gave rise to an arbitrary and uncontrolled urbanisation movement. Towers and bulky buildings sprang up between two middle-class houses, without much respect the layout of the pre-existing thoroughfares, let alone any architectural unity. Over the decades, residents deserted the area and, come nightfall or the weekend, the streets became empty.

"For some years now, our major territorial challenges have been to give institutions the opportunity to flourish, but also to integrating into the neighbourhood so that they no longer appear as impenetrable fortresses. This could be achieved by including shops on the ground floor, or even crèches open to employees of the institutions and local residents alike."says Tom Sanders. Ultimately, the aim is to create a social mix, attract residents and turn the European Quarter into a fully-fledged place where the people of Brussels can spend time.

"From the 1960s to the 1980s, huge buildings became part of the urban fabric. When the region began to take matters into its own hands, a series of plans were devised to improve the situation and avoid a number of urban planning aberrations"says the Strategy Director of Perspective Brussels. The most striking plan was undoubtedly that of 2008, aimed at "break the canyon of rue de la Loi - undoubtedly the street most disfigured by tall buildings and expressways - in order to encourage permeability on either side of the axis rather than creating two separate blocks, as if disconnected from the rest of the district. "New passageways will be created, as well as space on the ground"This will improve the quality of life not only for European employees, but also for local residents and visitors. The construction of three towers will free up this space, improving the living environment not only for European employees, but also for local residents and visitors.

By redeveloping the parks and the Place Schumann, which will soon be returned to its original state. entirely pedestrianisedAs a result, the layout of the area will change dramatically, as will the Place Jourdan and Place du Luxembourg. "Since a master plan was drawn up ten years ago, 150,000 m2 of housing has already been built."continues Pierre Lemaire. This major urban development plan, which was initially led by French architect Christian de Portzamparc, was however thwarted by political and administrative obstacles and disagreements between the city and the regional government. Today, a replacement plan supported by various urban planning and architectural competitions is slowly being put in place to readjust the construction projects. "There are also plans for a major public cultural or sports facility to integrate other activities into the district."underlines Pierre Lemaire.

Urban experimentation

Although years have been lost in this administrative and political stalemate, things are beginning to unravel: one tower has just been inaugurated and three more are due to be built over the next fifteen years. And on a positive note, the neighbourhood, which had just 650 residents in 2009, now has 1,500, a figure that is set to rise to 10,000 by 2040. "The district has the lowest vacancy rate in the region, at around 6 %. It therefore has real development potential. Its 3.5 million m² office buildings also represent the largest stock of office space in the city"concludes the project manager. As the European Quarter is also a place for urban experimentation, In the wake of the March 2016 attacks, we are developing security strategies by installing non-invasive devices, not only so as not to frighten anyone, but also in the interests of aesthetics and visual unity, with, for example, clumps of trees that blend perfectly into the landscape.

In the long term, the aim is to create a social mix, attract residents and turn the European Quarter into a fully-fledged place where the people of Brussels can go out and spend time.

Over the last five years, the European Quarter has become the second most popular tourist destination in Brussels after the historic centre, thanks in particular to museums such as the Cinquantenaire Museum, located in the majestic park of the same name - which is currently undergoing a complete overhaul - and the Parlamentarium, located in the heart of the European Parliament. Another new attraction is the House of European Historyopened in 2017 in a former dental school in the Parc Léopold, was created on the initiative of the European Parliament to promote a better understanding of the continent's history, and in particular that of the European Union.

The House features a permanent exhibition of emblematic objects and documents, as well as interactive educational features. "500,000 visitors are expected to visit the district every year, not counting the business tourism that is also very important"concluded the representatives of Perspective Brussels. Among the reasons for this strength as a business destination are the institutions, of course, but also the opening in 2016 of the new Schumann stationBrussels airport can now be reached in just five minutes. Rama Gilles, who has worked in the European Commission's Human Resources Directorate for Public Procurement since 2002, has been in a good position to observe the development of the district. "Whereas four or five years ago, we tended not to leave our offices and had a quick lunch in our canteens, today we have a feeling of enjoy life in the neighbourhood. We even tend to meet there in the evenings," explains this Eurocrat. It seems to me that the people of Brussels are more inclined to go out here. It's as if the district has gradually taken on a soul of its own.

Trendy cafés

On Place Jean Rey, located between Schumann and Rue de la Science and the central point between the various branches of the European Quarter, you'll find a very trendy café, the Grand Central, of which there are replicas elsewhere in Brussels. It has a raw, industrial feel and a lovely terrace. "The opening of this café two or three years ago has completely changed the spirit of the square.she continues. I now have a lot of fun to come and work in this area. Near my office, there are two typical Italian cafés serving all kinds of flavoured espressos. It's nice, because coffee is important for people from the European community, who get together both to discuss their work and to take a breather."

Other addresses frequented by Rama Gilles include Chez Elvis, on Rue de la Science, where she works; a trendy café serving fresh fruit and vegetable juices, as well as the famous Belgian 'pistolets'. Opened more recently by the same owner, The Office offers a work space with a 'home from home' feel, complete with lounging sofas. Not far from the Place du Luxembourg, El Turco, a bobo restaurant, offers top-quality produce, and between the Rue de la Paix and the Rue Saint-Boniface, some restaurants have become veritable institutions, such as Ultime Atome, which opened its doors in 1934. until the end of the night. "I don't think many Eurocrats live in this area, which tends to attract thirty-somethings without children. Those with families still tend to live elsewhere, but there is a clear trend towards repopulation."concludes Rama Gilles.
A coworking space recently opened on rue Belliard. Little by little, independent creatives are also taking to the streets of Europe.