Cities4PEDs Atlas_November 2021.pdf

The Northern District in Brussels, Belgium is an example of a
hyperdiverse, energy
district without central
coordination
A
B
C
They are existing districts, often close to the city centre, a hyperdiversity of different spatial
contexts exists in close proximity: industrial activities, offices, a mix of low- and highincome
houses, a mix of obsolete and newer buildings, etc. These districts already have
history of profound transformations, turning them into a collage of different morphologies.
The district has grown organically and consists of very different, decentralised realities:
very dispersed ownership, very different building typologies, extremes in socio-economic
population groups, etc. There is usually a harsh confrontation between different inhabitants
(gentrification is a big challenge), but also between inhabitants on the one hand and other
users on the other (for example, commuters who only use the neighbourhood to come to
work).
Because of these very different realities, the transition from the central, fossil-based energy
system to a renewable system will have to be made step-by-step and with diversified
methods and partnerships. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy to develop. The focus of the
energy approach is on energy technologies that can be de-centrally implemented, such as
solar panels, individual heat pumps, local geothermal energy, local residual heat or sewage
heat. The complementary use and production profiles in the district create an opportunity
for local energy exchange and balancing. In addition, renovation is a serious task here. The
outdated parts of the neighbourhood consume a lot of energy and are therefore a central
pillar of the energy approach. The big challenge is to develop a strategy that considers
the personalised approach needed for each home or building. To create the indispensable
buy-in from local residents, both owner-occupiers and tenants, but also to accommodate
reluctance inspired by trauma following previous attempts to transform the neighbourhood,
a bottom-up approach should be part and parcel of any new attempt to improve the (energy
balance of) the neighbourhood.
In order to manage the transformation of these types of districts towards PEDs, a platform
to coordinate a multitude of smaller, local actions is set up. It matches the various local
interests, (financing) opportunities by private actors, municipal and regional investment
programmes, cooperative projects and so on. This platform facilitates the exchange
between a broad community of stakeholders within the district, setting a shared agenda
and building new partnerships and projects. In the case of the Brussels’ Northern District,
this coordination platform is steered by the city itself, supported by facilitators and
neighbourhood managers that know very well what’s at stake within the district. Within this
platform, specific working tables are organised around local opportunities, such as “energy
communities”, “heat catalysts” and “collective renovation”, which lead to strategies that can
be multiplicated within the neighbourhood.
Working document
For an existing district, this strategy is the most dispersed, compared to a.o. Rotterdam and
Limerick, which have a grid structure, uniform architecture and fairly simple ownership
model. The focus on coordinating the many different decentralised initiatives is therefore
crucial here.
Other examples that could (partly) fit this category are: Buurzame Stroom Ghent, La Pile Brussels
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