event
How can temporarily neglected, undefined urban residual spaces be viewed as valuable testing grounds that enrich future urban plans and serve both public and non-human interests? Sophia Holst, meow collective and City of Transition are investigating this as part of a Bouwmeester Label project. On Saturday 26 September, they will be holding discussions with a number of key stakeholders in the Pechère Garden at the Brussels National Administrative Centre, the case study for their research.
Holst, meow collective & City of Transition are collaborating with BWMSTR Label 038 Koken met het ongeplande [BWMSTR Label 038 Cooking with the Unplanned], on a recipe book featuring strategies for recognising, preserving and integrating the qualities of these places into future urban plans.
During the presentation, they will explain BWMSTR Label 038 in more detail, followed by an initial round-table discussion exploring alternative development models for places in limbo. This will be followed by a walk through the Pechère Garden, introducing participants to the specific context of the research. In a second round-table discussion, the Pechère Garden itself will take centre stage as a case study, and we will discuss ways of making informal spatial qualities visible within the planning process. The afternoon will conclude with drinks.
The questions, discussions and conclusions from these talks will be incorporated into the recipe book Cooking with the Unplanned, which will be presented early next year. The final recipe book aims to inspire designers, policymakers and citizens to approach these places not as residual spaces, but as catalysts for inclusive urban development.
3 PM: Introduction by Bouwmeester Label 038
3:15 PM Round-table discussion #1: Alternative development of spaces in limbo
4 PM Walk through the garden
4:15 PM Round-table discussion #2: The Pechère Garden as a case study
5 PM Drinks
[BWMSTR Label 038 Cooking with the Unplanned]
Sophia Holst, Oleg Asoiev (City of Transition) & meow collective
The researchers aim to investigate how places ‘in limbo’ – temporarily neglected, unplanned urban residual spaces – can be transformed into valuable testing grounds that serve the public interest and enrich future urban planning. Such places are informally appropriated by nature, residents and local initiatives, but are at risk of being lost once construction projects get underway.
26.09.2026
3 PM-6PM
Pechère Gardens, National Administrative Centre, Brussels
Access via the Congress Column on Rue Royale / the Finance Tower on Avenue du Jardin Botanique.
The public event will be held in English and Dutch.
Participation is free of charge, subject to prior registration via the online registration form.
The project forms part of the thirteenth series of Bouwmeester Labels, an initiative of the Team Vlaams Bouwmeester and the Flanders Architecture Institute (VAi).
