Our resources are becoming increasingly scarce, which is why we need to engage more deeply with existing structures and reinterpret them.

Îlot Maelbeek, located within Brussels' European Quarter—an area that has so far been largely monofunctional—has not yet embodied the ideal of a diverse and vibrant neighborhood. That is about to change. Shifts in work structures have led to significant vacancies in the office buildings of the European Union. Some of these buildings, including the Îlot Maelbeek block, are being sold to the city of Brussels and repurposed.

In Design Studio 1, we will focus on redesigning and restructuring part of the block, which houses the Maelbeek metro station, as well as the adjacent park that is currently separated by spatial barriers.

The challenges of our task include integrating new complementary functions, improving the accessibility of the block and its integrated metro station, and enhancing the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. Furthermore, we will collectively examine the degree of surface sealing and the approach to open spaces within our study area.