Studio: B(S)XL
The City as a Resource
Studio 24/25 Semester 1
Academie van bouwkunst Rotterdam
Site
Schaarbeek-Vorming, Brussels
Co-Tutors
Philippe Allignet, Giacomo Gallo
Tslil Strauss, Jacopo Grilli
Focus
Urban metabolism, degrowth, material flow analysis
Challenging growth-driven urbanism
Can we look at the city as a resource: the social, spatial, material, and intellectual breeding ground for a just and sustainable future?
Cities are the epicenters where the interlocked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social justice accumulate. However, they are also the perfect testing grounds for new solutions. In this studio, we challenge the standard, growth-driven practices of contemporary urban design and architecture. Instead, we explore alternative development models aligned with the principles of urban degrowth and the circular economy.
The testing ground for this investigation is Schaarbeek-Vorming, located in northern Brussels. Historically operating as a major railway hub, the site boasts a rich industrial history. Today, it stands as an underperforming, underutilized enclave. Its vast scale and post-industrial reality make it an ideal canvas to decode the complexity of Brussels' urban and landscape systems.