Development of the Heysel Plateau, phase 2

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

The City of Brussels has just appointed 8 architectural firms for a town planning competition. The purpose? Turn the Heysel into a major international pole in Brussels, with respect for the local residents, for the collective interest and for sustainable development. The regulation of this competition was also made known.

An international dimension

28 candidates presented their file last June, satisfying the various compulsory criteria: the supply of administrative data, the proof of their financial and economic means, as well as the proof of their technical capacities. These 8 international offices have already carried out high-quality architectural and\or urbanistic works:

• the national library of France
• the European parliament of Strasbourg
• the new city of Pujiang
• the Olympic park of London
• the waterfront of Dubai
• ...

The architectural offices that have been selected:

• AS. Architecture-Studio
• DPA-Dominique Perrault Architecture
• De Architekten Cie.-Royal Haskoning
• Gregotti Associati International & Ramboll UK Ltd.
• Sum Project – ARUP & Partners International Ltd – BDO Atrio nv
• Ingeneria IDOM Internacional S.A.
• KCAP Architects & Planners
• OMA Office for Metropolitan Architecture

Competition with NEO rules

The authorities of the City of Brussels have real ambitions for the development of the Heysel plateau, but they also have the will not to impose their vision on the offices. Some experts will thus be in the jury of the competition. This competition leaves some freedom to the candidates in their development of the site. The 8 offices, which received a copy of the regulation of the competition, will have to elaborate a global project of development and reorganization of the site by taking into account certain criteria such as:

• optimization of the zoning schemes and functions
• aestheticism and creativity
• sustainable development and mobility
• conservation of green spaces
• reduction of nuisances for the local residents
• financial realism in the choice of the projects

March 2010

The projects will be presented in an anonymous way to the jury (consisted for the greater part of experts, political representatives are a minority). The jury will have for essential mission to indicate, with simple majority, 2 winners of the competition. This will be done after examination and evaluation of the projects of the selected candidates.

May 2010

2 winners will then go into the final competition. In May 2010 the winner will be known.

The voice of the local residents

Throughout the process, the local residents will be able to give their vision on the project. Several information meetings have already been organized during the 1st phase of the project. These various meetings allowed the City to make a note with all the important remarks from the inhabitants. The note was handed to the candidates, who will have to take these remarks into account. The 2 winners will also be urged to participate in a supplementary session of meetings with the local residents to allow an exchange of views.

• A specific space is dedicated to the local residents on the forum of the site NEO. It is the opportunity to speak and to participate.
• More information: info@neobrussels.com