The Northern Quarter; a collection of stories

Lietje Bauwens and Wouter De Raeve will exhibit a remnant of the WTC towers at Kaaitheater. In the 1960s, this building project was an ambitious dream; but today, the towers have already been demolished. What to do with the debris of failed modernism, the waste of contemporary capitalism? Does what is being built today on these remnants offer a worthy alternative, or do we need fresh alternatives?

The Northern Quarter, a lively and heterogeneous district with a complex history, is often portrayed as desolate and problematic. This image makes it easy for project developers and politicians to push aside the social reality and go ahead with their own plans. For example, the area is currently undergoing thorough transformations due to many large-scale projects. Unfortunately, it is not clear to the residents and social organisations of the neighbourhood what exactly is going to happen, and who is behind what. On 10 September, 431 will present, alongside the artefact of the WTC towers, an initial overview of all private and public plans for the neighbourhood. It is a first step towards being able to create a Northern Quarter where social needs are still at the heart.