Garden city Bon Air

Project: Garden city Bon Air
Architect: DEV-space

Momentary association

L'atelier, Ludivine Gragy, Aries, Stam

Programme: Guide plan and creation of 6 new spaces in the garden city "BON AIR"

About

MASTERPLAN AND GLOBAL MOBILITY STUDY

The preliminary design phase covered the entire "Bon Air" neighborhood, including streets, entryways from Avenue d’Itterbeek, squares and intersections, Place Séverine, inner courtyards, the strip between Avenue de la Fécondité and the Flemish border, and the area between Rue Ferdinand Craps and the Ring.

The preliminary design phase developed:

A comprehensive study on the reorganization of mobility and parking throughout the garden city. This aims to permanently eliminate transit traffic and clarify informal parking in the area.
- The new traffic plan introduces three distinct loops designed to eliminate transit traffic, simplify school traffic flow and bus routes, and enhance the overall safety of the neighborhood. It also allows for the creation of pedestrian public spaces by removing oversized road intersections and freeing up space for sustainable transport modes.
A masterplan for the entire neighborhood, defining six categories of projects that highlight high-potential areas identified in the site analysis, namely:
- Creation of themed pedestrian squares, landscaped and planted, replacing large existing road intersections.
- Redefinition of street profiles, implementing one-way traffic to create designated parking spaces, eliminate informal parking, and introduce planted and permeable zones.
- Enhancing the "gateway" entrances to the garden city from Avenue d’Itterbeek with identity-based signage marking the transition into a distinct neighborhood.
- Redevelopment of Place Séverine and its surroundings into an extensive outdoor sports area, directly linked to the school renovation/expansion project and the demolition/reconstruction of the existing gymnasium.
- Transformation of neglected inner courtyards into ecological reserves with dense vegetation tailored to each space.
- Reprogramming of vacant land on the northern fringe towards the Flemish border and eastwards to the Ring.

CREATION OF SIX NEW PUBLIC SQUARES

The redefinition of mobility and circulation zones enables the transformation of residual spaces into six fully-fledged urban squares. The urban redevelopment rebalances the hierarchy between car-dedicated space and pedestrian areas in the public realm.

Pavement textures are standardized across all squares, roads are raised to sidewalk level with subtle delineations, and sidewalks are widened to further reduce space allocated to cars. A total of 2,000m² of ground area is returned to pedestrians. Drivers navigate a "pedestrian surface," naturally adapting their speed and driving behavior.

Themed squares serve as focal points for activities and leisure, integrating densified greenery and carefully designed urban furniture tailored to user needs. Projects emphasize rainwater infiltration, minimizing runoff into sewers by introducing numerous densely planted areas in public spaces. Over 1,000m² of natural soil and 3,000m² of semi-permeable surfaces are created, alongside the planting of 56 new tall trees.

The urban planning permit phases, adjudication dossiers, and construction stages will concretely develop six new public squares:

Place de l’Aurore – A Shaded Garden
The redesign of circulation allows for the creation of a structured and densely planted pedestrian zone. The entire square, from façade to façade, is transformed into a shaded garden, where seating and lighting elements are interwoven with large permeable tree pits filled with shrubs and perennials.
Place de la Croix-Rouge – A Large Playful Esplanade
The reorganization of traffic enables the creation of a spacious pedestrian and recreational area. The project introduces a central permeable green zone that uses topography to create an informal playful space. A concrete border with six integrated benches frames the planted area, offering seating.
Place Hygiène/Modestie – A Densely Planted Rain Garden
The newly freed space is converted into a fully planted bioswale, prioritizing water infiltration. Three large multi-spotlight poles illuminate the central area, creating dynamic light interplay with vegetation and wetland zones.
Place Avenue Auguste Bourgeois – A Gateway to the Schools
Avenue Auguste Bourgeois is redesigned to provide a clear and safe pedestrian entrance to nearby schools. Traffic loops are regulated from Avenue d’Itterbeek to minimize vehicle circulation in the area. The new design features four planted strips framing a central pedestrian alleyway, equipped with lighting and seating. A new playground is created near the schools, serving as an open forecourt for students.
Place Nicodème/Lagey – A Covered Meeting and Resting Area
The traffic reorganization allows for a new semi-permeable mineral square, paved with light-colored concrete blocks with open joints. A large circular canopy is installed, providing shelter for six wide benches. The space is visually open to encourage social interaction and passive surveillance, while dense vegetation on the square’s perimeter offers a natural visual screen for seating areas.
Place Fécondité/Craps – An Urban Agriculture Extension
This project extends the green corridor, reinforcing its existing theme of urban agriculture. It marks the pedestrian entrance from the underpass at the Ring and Boulevard Dupuis by introducing a 175m² low greenhouse.