The spatial mirror. Designing urban collective spaces from bottom up in Brussels

From het boerenhof in Ghent to the Brussels’ situation; sceneries of potential. How can a ’scenery of potential’ develop more equally voiced design processes for public spaces and investigate the role of the architect in this. The PhD extends from the master thesis in Architecture (urban Architectural Design). In this action-research, temporary use of an urban waiting space, the 'Boerenhof'-site in Ghent, has been a catalyst to create voice for locals to fight top-down plans for their neighbourhood. Through the exploration and study of the self-made case study, new questions and research directions continuously emerge while reading the process in its different facets. At the closure of the thesis’ dissertation (although not being a definitive ending) following research questions, amongst others, are left open: - Can the fragile state of being ‘unplanned’, which is how the Boerenhof started, become an urban planning tool in the practice? - How can the cumbersome urban planning department be more open to local initiatives and participation? … Can these bottom-up initiatives succeed in their goal to cause political shifts? - How is this type of architecture possible in the real practice, dominated by the economic system? - Do these participatory projects manage to remain without external triggers or support and how? A broad range of themes are addressed and remain open for further investigation. Brussels unfolds a ‘scenery of potential’ to develop and explore more equally voiced design processes for public spaces and investigate the role of the architect in this. The PhD takes off with research on Brussels’ planning situation, while discovering the potential for transition.status: accepte