Le Quartier Nord, une collection d’histoires

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. 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 2021, 431 presented an initial overview of all private and public plans for the neighbourhood by means of the booklet Le Quartier Nord, une collection d’histoires at Kaaitheater. It was a first step towards being able to create a Northern Quarter where social needs are still at the heart.

You can find a sneak peek of the booklet in pictures below. To discover the pdf you can send an email to lietjebauwens@gmail.com or deraeve.w@gmail.com.

©Magnus

research 431 vzw | redaction Lietje Bauwens, Wouter De Raeve, Daan Milius, Koen Van Baelen | translation French Marie Beaumond | graphic design Bonsma & Reist, Bern/Brussels | photography fotografie Magnus | feedback Paula Almiron, Tine Declerck, Sarah De Laet, Jan Denoo, Bie Vancraeynest | the project took place within the framework of the program Sous Les Pavés, HetStrand/ Onder De Stenen, La Plage curated by Erika Sprey.

There's more

Lietje Bauwens & Wouter De Raeve/431

The Northern Quarter; a collection of stories

exhibition

Kaaitheater

Fri 10.09 - Sat 11.09.21

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?

#ChangingTheCity

SOUS LES PAVÉS, HET STRAND / ONDER DE STENEN, LA PLAGE

Sat 11.09 - Sat 11.09.21

In this new series of programmes, Kaaitheater searches beneath the drab concrete and paving stones of the Northern Quarter for Brussels' super-diverse life in all its forms and colours. Join us in writing this new narrative for our beloved city! Be informed and surprised by the many lectures, workshops, interventions, performance, film, exhibition and last but not least, an after-summer neighbourhood party on our 'beach' at the Akenkaai.