Brusselization
Encyclopedia
Brusselization is a term used by urban planner
s to describe anarchic commercial property development in a historic city. The term originated as the result of the uncontrolled development of Brussels
in the 1960s and 1970s, where unscrupulous developers were given free rein to build a futuristic city. It often also entails developers' method of destroying old buildings by neglect, allowing them to decay to the point where demolition is unavoidable.
in the 19th century but this and especially the North-South connection in the 1930s had already left terrible scars on the urban fabric of the city. In a way, the fact that the city of Brussels had already been so badly mutilated and had not really recovered, made things easier for the property developers.
Urban planner
An urban planner or city planner is a professional who works in the field of urban planning/land use planning for the purpose of optimizing the effectiveness of a community's land use and infrastructure. They formulate plans for the development and management of urban and suburban areas, typically...
s to describe anarchic commercial property development in a historic city. The term originated as the result of the uncontrolled development of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in the 1960s and 1970s, where unscrupulous developers were given free rein to build a futuristic city. It often also entails developers' method of destroying old buildings by neglect, allowing them to decay to the point where demolition is unavoidable.
Origin
The phenomenon dates back to Expo 58 in Brussels. In order to prepare the city, boulevards were created, tunnels dug, and in general Brussels radically transformed itself into a city designed for the car.Analysis
Other cities have also been prey to property speculators. The Paris of Haussmann, for example, allowed lucrative development to occur often at the expense of the 'little people', displaced into 'La Zone'. However the Paris of Haussmann could at least justify itself by its aesthetic charms, since the new avenues created were very attractive. The same can be said about the new avenues created after Parisian modells in Brussels after the covering of the SenneCovering of the Senne
The covering of the Senne was one of the defining events in the history of Brussels. The Senne/Zenne was historically the main waterway of Brussels, but it became more polluted and less navigable as the city grew. By the second half of the 19th century, it had become a serious health hazard and...
in the 19th century but this and especially the North-South connection in the 1930s had already left terrible scars on the urban fabric of the city. In a way, the fact that the city of Brussels had already been so badly mutilated and had not really recovered, made things easier for the property developers.
See also
- FacadismFacadismFaçadism is the practice of demolishing a building but leaving its facade intact for the purposes of building new structures in it or around it....
- Historic PreservationHistoric preservationHistoric preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
- Venice CharterVenice CharterThe Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites is a treaty that gives an international framework for the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings...
- DemolitionDemolitionDemolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
- Jardin du MaelbeekJardin du MaelbeekThe Maalbeekdaltuin or Jardin de la vallée du Maelbeek is a small green space on the corner of the Rue de la Loi and Chaussé d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels...