Page 38 - DS2.black team booklet
P. 38
Scenario 2:
Region of Brussels and
the two universities
This scenario supposes the government One project to have inspired this and
of the Brussels Capital Region acquires the next scenario is ‘We kopen samen
the building in the framework of Den Oudaan’. As the large ‘Den Oudaan’
USquare, “bringing people, city and tower in Antwerp was put up for sale,
knowledge together” inside the former a collective of citizens started to image
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military complex situated in front of what would be possible to organize
said building. Together with the two or install there, if they were to buy the
Brussels universities, ULB and VUB, building. They didn’t buy it eventually,
the regional government manages the but the concepts and ideas they have
Usquare project. They wish to create developed show that real estate can also
on the one hand a new expertise centre be redeveloped in a way that benefits a
of international importance and on city and its inhabitants.
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the other hand meet the needs of the
city’s inhabitants in terms of housing, Other programme, design and concept
facilities and quality of life. Among its elements were inspired by both small
goals is the reinforcement of Brussels as and large existing projects in for example
international metropolis, a crossroads Iran, Australia, USA and Israel.
of cultures. Further, the Region aims
to open the site up to the city, develop
family and student housing, lay out
welcoming and attractive public spaces,
create local facilities for nearby residents,
and accommodate the university project
which includes international exchanges.
It is in this framework we imagine
a scenario for the building: how can
this building integrate the values that
are put forward in the description in
the USquare project? In which way
can our building accommodate and
provide a programme for newcomers?
‘We kopen samen Den Oudaan’
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