Place Flagey, Brussels Redesign of a large town square

As a central, historic square in the middle of a lively and diverse neighbourhood, Place Flagey has a great importance that it can only live up to by integrating the city and creating a continuous space that gives priority back to pedestrians.
The three areas Place Sainte-Croix, Place Flagey, lakeside, which were strongly separated from each other by the road and tram layout, now form a coherent ensemble, which as a whole marks the new centre of the quarter.

The Place Flagey is an open space that withdraws itself in its design and becomes strong through the staging of the surroundings and spatial contexts.

There is a high pressure of use due to the densely built adjacent neighborhoods. The Portuguese and Moroccan-influenced neighborhoods to the north of the square contrast with the affluent residential areas to the south, along the waterfront. In addition, there are students from the nearby architecture school, as well as visitors to the Flagey Cultural Centre.
The Place Fagey responds to this very heterogeneous structure as a multifunctional platform that does not prescribe any uses, but rather as a space that motivates visitors and allows them to act.
The design framework of this space results from the approach of keeping the square as free as possible and the effort to continue movements and historical elements, or to rediscover them.
With the inauguration in the summer of 2008, the square was taken possession of by residents and visitors and used even more as an urban square, in the sense of a park, or play space.

The boundaries of the lake originally extended far into the area of the current square before it was filled in. This course was taken up thematically and is reflected in the sweep of the paving and in the positioning of the trees and fountains.
Thus, spaces with different qualities of stay and use were created on the square, which were complemented by the restrained furnishing strategy. The generous, freely curved benches made of wood are non-directional and offer a lot of seating comfort due to their extra-wide areas and partly high backrests. They flank the plaza and allow it to become an activity area. Temporary uses such as the regularly held markets, exhibitions, meetings, sporting events, but also a resting area change the moods of the square.

The free-standing fountains, which seem to shoot up directly from the ground, create a visual and acoustic attraction and convey coolness and refreshment in summer. The water flows extensively along the curved floor form until it drains into slotted channels, barely noticeable.

The choice of materials and the handling of surfaces is an important element of the design concept. By largely homogenizing the surfaces, architectural elements and furnishings, the different areas of the two squares and the lake became one coherent space.

The traditional bluestone accompanies the sweep of the trees and the water in its directional laying structure. The plaza was given a tangible dynamic character.
The multiple methods of finishing the bluestone in its surface made it possible to maintain a single flooring surface while responding to varying needs.

In a pleasing contrast to the uniform gray-blue of the bluestone are the spacious benches. The warm tone of the wood and the curved form of the benches detach the square from the matter-of-fact austerity of the surrounding architecture.

With the surrounding buildings as a backdrop, the functional small-scale architecture was reduced to a structural minimum. The architectural elements (tram canopy, bus shelter, stairways to the underground car park, lift, pavilions) are independent, functional as well as design elements in the square space.

The waiting area for the tram was generously roofed. The entire element of the tram stop canopy is not a visual obstacle, as the vertical elements are also kept transparent. The tree-like structure of the construction made of steel and glass blends in with the surrounding groups of trees, while the glass roof allows the play of light and shadow of the treetops above it to take effect with their leaves. The continuity of the space is preserved.

The tree species planted in Flagey Square are based on the historic stock, or its surroundings. In accordance with the occurrence of willows in the vicinity of the lake, these same trees extend from the south onto the square. In the north, chestnut trees take up the reference to the surroundings. In combination with the historic plane trees, a uniform, continuous image of the entire area was also achieved through the vegetation.

The functional lighting along the surrounding streets, or the square itself was reduced to the absolutely necessary and implemented without glare.
The actual lighting design gives the square a large-scale and differentiated evening effect based on a holistic city panorama. A strong sense of space is created by soft and glare-free illumination of the facades surrounding the square. No objects, luminaires or glare points were placed in the foreground, but rather what belongs to the square was emphasized: the surrounding architecture in all its diversity.