What is it about?
The North Quarter is undergoing a major transformation, marked by numerous renovation and urban planning projects. This development is attracting significant private and public investment. Housing is being built along the canal, office complexes are being renovated, major facilities are being created, and parks and public spaces are being developed, bringing many new residents to the area.
This project is part of the Citroën-Vergote urban renewal contract, approved in 2017.
Just a stone's throw from the Gare du Nord train station, parc Maximilien, which covers around 9 hectares, is a vast green space in the heart of a mixed-use residential area with new metropolitan facilities. The southern part of the park, on the Quai du Batelage, is home to the 'Ferme du parc Maximilien', an educational farm whose main aim is to raise public awareness and educate people about the environment through ecological events.
As part of the park redevelopment project, the farm will be moved to the foot of the Foyer Laekenois esplanade. This relocation will provide an opportunity to create a dialogue between the esplanade and the park, with a lively and attractive façade.
The farm will be set up both on and below the esplanade, in the form of a duplex project, in order to overcome the obstacle often posed at the base of these modernist complexes. Beneath the esplanade, with a clear and transparent link to the redeveloped Parc Maximilien, the ground floor will be brought to life by a number of functions, including:
- A reception area for event groups (community centre and farm)
- Offices for the farm teams
- A staircase leading to the top of the esplanade, where the greenhouses and vegetable gardens will be located
- Areas dedicated to animals
The buildings of the current urban farm will be transformed into leisure and recreation facilities for local residents.
Moving the farm will also open up the park to the city centre, at Place Yser, creating a better connection to the city centre for both pedestrians and cyclists.
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What purpose?
This project meets the following ambitions and objectives:
- To streamline the management and use of municipal sites by applying the concept of chrono-urbanism
- To prioritise the re-concentration of the city's facilities and services within multi-purpose, shared neighbourhood facilities hubs
- To address the lack of public facilities
- To mobilise and equip municipal properties with urban agricultural facilities (vegetable gardens/greenhouses/chicken coops)
- To transform municipal and public buildings into key players in improving the urban climate
