What is it about?
In 2021, the City of Brussels adopted a masterplan for the Van Praet zone of regional interest and its surroundings, at the entrance to Neder-Over-Heembeek. This strategic plan, although not statutory, clearly defines the programmes for the different construction zones. The development of a new district on this site is intended to establish a high-quality link between the city centre and the canal industrial zone.
Block 4 will soon be home to a mixed-use building on the corner of Rue Heembeek and Avenue des Croix de Feu. The building will include a 56-place crèche and 29 homes.
On the ground floor of the building, a municipal French-speaking crèche will offer 56 places for children aged 0 to 3. The upper floors will be devoted to 29 residential units, ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments, to meet a variety of family needs.
The crèche will benefit from a garden on the edge of the Moerasbos, including a small educational vegetable garden and an enclosure for small animals. Residents will also have access to a communal garden and vegetable patch. To protect their privacy, these areas will be separated from the public pathway running alongside the Moerasbos by ditches and a densely planted fence.
What purpose?
This project meets the following ambitions and objectives:
- Guaranteeing affordable housing for everyone
- Increasing the proportion of 3+ bedroom homes in the Brussels housing stock aimed at families
- responding to the lack of childcare facilities for young children
- Giving priority to reconcentrating the city's facilities and services within multi-purpose neighbourhood facilities hubs
- Taking advantage of new projects to develop communal vegetable gardens wherever possible
