‘Brussels as an urban ecosystem’

The second Agora Urban Master Class, facilitated by Pierre Vanderstraeten, presents Brussels as an urban ecosystem. The Brussels-Capital Region stretches across three valleys which give the area its topography and hydrology. Sonian Forest, public parks and private gardens make it a very green city. This network of green spaces, with their rivers and lakes, fosters urban biodiversity. The city must be designed as an ecological system, with air, water, food and raw material supply cycles... especially at a time when climate changes are demanding a sustainable transition.

Pierre Vanderstraeten is a sociologist, architect and urban planner. He teaches at UCL and at ISURU. He is currently Vice-Dean of the Brussels site of UCL's Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning (LOCI), and a member of CREAT. He is also an urban planning project designer with the Via agency.