What is it about?
In November 2020, the Property Management Agency of the City of Brussels acquired a former sponge factory located in the historic heart of the city centre that had been abandoned for many years by private owners. The City of Brussels plans to develop housing, community facilities and a retail outlet on the site.
Pending the completion of a global redevelopment project, the City offered the site for temporary occupation. This is how the 'Maison Arc-en-Ciel' project came into being, supported by a number of associations active in the LGBTQIA+ community.
In addition to the 'Maison Arc-en-Ciel de la Santé', which offers a dedicated medical service to LGBTQIA+ people, the site is home to a number of health and prevention associations. Social services, awareness-raising workshops and discussion groups are organised there. Additional spaces are also available for meetings, workshops and training courses.
The cultural aspect is also an important part of the project, with the site able to host exhibitions, festivals, concerts,... thanks to the presence of a social cafe.
This 'safe space' also offers co-housing accommodation for the community, with around 10 rooms available.
The current aim is to ensure the long-term future of this project, which was initially set up on a temporary basis.
What purpose?
This project meets the following ambitions and objectives:
- To strike a sustainable balance between the city centre's residential and tourist areas by promoting a functional and social mix, rehabilitating vacant and run-down properties, developing affordable housing for all and providing facilities and services
- To address the shortage of dedicated healthcare services
- To enhance the patrimonial identity of the city centre's neighbourhoods while strengthening their resilience to the risks of heat islands, flooding and deterioration in air quality, by focusing on both the buildings and the interiors of the blocks
