GOOD BRUSSELS’ CITY PLANNING INSPIRATION FOR FREMANTLE

The beautiful city of Brussels in Belgium is moving forward with detailed planning for the future, and many of the things they are considering, would be well worth also for Fremantle. I have copied a few examples, but a link to the entire plans are at the bottom of this post.

Open space

Good Living aims to create open space:

• Where people have space to play, relax and socialise.
• Where everyone can move around safely and comfortably.
• With a positive impact on the environment and the climate.

Some examples of the Good Living rules of law aimed to achieve these objectives:

• Maximum 50% of each street will be reserved for individual motorised transport. This means that at least 50% of each street will be reserved for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, trees and bushes, benches, playground equipment, etc.
• Highly frequented areas will contain benches, toilets, drinking fountains, playground equipment and other street furniture.
• Each Brussels road will have suitable cycling infrastructure, in line with the Good Move road hierarchy. If there is transit traffic on the axis, there will be a separate cycle lane.
• Buildings with a floor area exceeding 1,000 m² will have open space with facilities accessible to all users of the building.
• 75 % of the surface area not built on of a land will be open ground.

Urbanity

Good Living aims to create an urban environment:

• With quality architecture and respect for our heritage
• With more quality housing and the preservation of open space
• With sustainable and multifunctional buildings 

Some examples of the Good Living rules of law aimed to achieve these objectives:

• Renovation will be the starting point for each existing building. Demolition of a building will only be allowed in very exceptional circumstances.
• It will be possible for each new or renovated building to evolve to other functions in the future.
• Each new or renovated building will have a positive impact on climate and biodiversity.
• Each new or renovated building will integrate rainwater management.
• The project density will be determined on the basis of the available green and open space, accessibility to mobility options, the mix of functions within the project…
• At least 30% of each site will remain undeveloped.
• Any flat roof larger than 20 m² will be used as a green roof, as a terrace, for urban agriculture or for solar panels.

This is very interesting, and many of the points should be considered by our local and state governments in Australia as well.

To read it all: https://pascalsmet.brussels/en/first-version-good-living/

Roel Loopers

EXHIBITION ABOUT GENTRIFICATION AT DADAA

 

A very interesting exhibition No Fixed Address that explores survival tactics, social rituals and ways of moving within and occupying public space will open this Friday at the new DADAA gallery in the former Boys School at Fremantle’s Princess May Park.

Artists Olga Cironis, Janet Carter, Hannan Jones, Tanya Lee, Lincoln Mackinnon, Mike Moshos, Rebecca Riggs-Bennett, Susan Roux and Wade Taylor collaborated with homeless people and St Patrick’s staff for this show that will deal with the gentrification of the East End of Fremantle.

There will be an exhibition, workshops, public events, installations and films.

A Carpe Noctum walking tour will be held on the 30th of November and 9th of December from 8pm to explore who has the right to occupy our urban spaces after dark.

A penel discussion will be held about housing diversity on January 23 from 6pm.

The exhibition opens this Friday from 6-8pm at DADAA.

 

Roel Loopers