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Four buildings recently opened at the city’s famous Uccle-Boitsfort Hippodrome.

This follows exterior restoration work overseen and financed by the Urban Development Corporation (SAU-MSI).

The four listed buildings - the grandstand, small stand, weighing building and judges’ tower – go some way to restoring the site’s former glory.

The site, restored at a cost of some €6m, also now includes a new-generation amusement park.

Located at the edge of the Foret des Soignes, at the busy intersection of Avenue Roosevelt and Chaussée de la Hulpe, the  32.5 hectare hippodrome is a gateway to the forest.

Brussels-Capital Region, which worked in collaboration with the Directorate of Monuments and Sites, had three main goals: to preserve the site’s natural and historic heritage; develop a recreational green space for families and to develop the site’s recreational, educational and cultural functions.

אַדווערטייזמאַנט

One further goal was to make the links between the three buildings clearer.

The origins of the Boitsfort Hippodrome date back to 1875, when plans for a racecourse were drawn up by landscape architect Edouard Keilig. Built in 1878 in a picturesque eclectic style, the grandstand and small stand are of interest from architectural, technical and historical viewpoints.

A Brussels-Capital Region spokesman said: “Its ambitions are to promote nature and biodiversity in the city, bring families together, create a strong link with the forest and become a flagship destination for tourism, culture and education.

Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, agreed, saying the aim is to “welcome families, restore key, historic buildings and preserve the environment”.

Citroen building

This is generally recognised as being one of the outstanding buildings of Brussels and the subject of a very ambitious cultural project.

Brussels-Capital Region has plans to refurbish the building to create the largest museum in the city since the beginning of the 20th century.

The goal? To transform this former garage into a cultural centre of global stature. The Citroën Cultural Centre represents a new ambition for every inhabitant of Brussels.

Brussels is rich in terms of modern and contemporary art, architecture and culture. But one missing piece in the jigsaw is a museum of modern and contemporary art and architecture.

One aim of this project is to give all Brussels inhabitants a cultural venue that is accessible and educational.

In addition to the areas dedicated to cultural exhibitions, multipurpose leisure and education spaces are also part of the plans.

Société d'Aménagement Urbain/Urban Development Corporation (SAU-MSI) acquired the premises of the Citroën-Yser garage in 2015 with a view to developing a cultural centre of international stature. The iconic 48,000m² building was constructed in 1933 on a plot of nearly two hectares, alongside Brussels canal.

The garage itself will remain operational while Citroën constructs a new building, scheduled for opening later this year.

As well as hosting contemporary art, the museum will house the International Centre for Urbanism, Architecture and Landscape (CIVA).

Located near Place Sainctelette, the Citroën-Yser garage was built to plans drawn up by André Citroën himself, who wanted it to be Europe’s largest garage.

A Brussels-Capital Region spokesman said: “Given its location and iconic character, this is a strategic site for the implementation of the canal plan.”

Ecoduct

Brussels will soon host a new bridge – not for traffic or pedestrians, but wildlife.

From August, when the first phase of work of the bridge at Groenendaal is scheduled to be finished, the animals of the Foret des Soignes will be able to cross the Brussels Ring in safety.

The “ecoduct”, 60m wide and 55m long, will cost about €6 million and is designed to improve safety for both humans and animals. As well as trees and plants it will also include a chain of small pools for amphibians. An ecoduct is a wildlife crossing in the form of a viaduct in which the upper layer is reserved to let animals cross a road safely.

Every year, thousands of animals die on the Ring and research suggests that many animals prefer this location to cross. These include badgers, stone-martens, squirrels, deer, boars, forest polecats and foxes.

The scheme is being financed by several bodies, including the Flemish government, European Union, two local municipalities, the Nature and Forest Agency and the Road and Traffic Agency.

Ben Weyts, minister responsible for mobility and animal welfare, said: “This is not only about animal welfare but also traffic safety.”

COOP

COOP, the former Moulart industrial mill at Quai Demets in Anderlecht, has been totally restored and converted into a business and cultural centre as part of the Port Sud project.

It includes a permanent exhibition which looks at different aspects of the history of the local canal, its people and environment.

After nearly €8m was invested in the renovation by Brussels Region and the EU, it now offers a unique blend of functions.

These include premises offering support to 20 SMEs in more than 3,000 square metres of work space and offices. A “waterway innovation yard”, meanwhile, is dedicated to boat building and renovation.

The top floor of the building is now home to an impressive auditorium which seats up to 70 people.

Partnerships are now being forged with local schools, neigbourhood associations and cultural groups.

Josaphat

In order to cope with sustained population growth in the north-east quadrant of the Brussels Region and make more quality housing accessible to local people, the city authorities are developing ten new districts, in response to demand for public- and private-sector housing and facilities.

Josaphat is one of these districts and also one of the city’s flagship urban projects.

Josaphat will, effectively, be a whole new area of the city, a contemporary mixed district where a wide range of urban activities can come together and flourish without impeding one another.

The motto of this diverse and sustainable bit of Brussels says it all: ‘Living and working in a park’.

The new district will operate a policy of housing diversity, with the aim of producing homes that are affordable for people in Brussels and adapted to contemporary domestic living.

There is also a determination to locate different types of housing on the site so as to foster a genuine social mix.

As the “new” district grows all the necessary facilities – ranging from schools and childcare to sport and culture - will be gradually introduced to meet the needs and expectations of its future occupants.

An industrial zone on the 24-hectare site will also be equipped and modernised to create a “business and employment district of high urban value.”

Part of the site is old railway infrastructure (the former Josaphat marshalling yard) but this has already been cleaned up while an environmental impact assessment has been carried out.

Work is due to start next year, extending over a period of ten years. This huge site is hidden away and little-known but, under this scheme, that is all set to change.

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