According to Sophie Hubaut, a PhD student in the art of building and urban planning at the Faculty of Architecture of the ULB, the question of the urban landscape is more than just regarding exceptional views and their protection. The photos submitted to urban.brussels showed that there are also photos of green spaces, everyday landscapes, and more. The landscape encompasses green spaces, water, and questions of mobility and densification. Moreover, the apprehension of the urban landscape requires a transversal approach, as seen by the collaborations with Brussels Environment and perspective.brussels. The European Landscape Convention has been ratified by the three regions of the country, but it has not been implemented in practice in Brussels. Therefore, managing and developing the landscape is also imperative.
But the question of the urban landscape goes beyond the notion of exceptional views and that of their protection. “The photos sent in response to the call from urban.brussels show this clearly, comments Sophie Hubaut, PhD student in the art of building and urban planning at the Faculty of Architecture of the ULB: there are not only remarkable viewsthere are also photos of green spaces, the Wiels marsh, everyday landscapes seen from a bedroom, or in a street.”
“The landscape is something more global, continues Sophie Hubaut, which also includes the green spaceset the waterand which are articulated with questions of mobilityof densification (which lead to the construction of towers, even if not everyone agrees with this answer)…”
The landscape is something more global
Moreover, reminds the doctoral student, it is not only a question of protecting the landscape, but also of managing it, of developing it. “This is, moreover, what the European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000)convention ratified by the three regions of the country but which has not been implemented in practice in Brussels.”
The apprehension of the urban landscape therefore requires a transversal approach. This is also one of the lessons learned by urban.brussels, which is considering collaborations with Brussels Environment et perspective.brussels on these issues.
In conclusion, the urban landscape is much more than just exceptional views and their protection. It includes green spaces, water, mobility, densification and everyday landscapes. The management and development of the landscape are just as important as its protection. A transversal approach is needed to fully understand and address the issues surrounding the urban landscape. Urban.brussels is already taking steps towards collaborations with other organizations to better understand and manage the urban landscape in Brussels. It is important to continue these efforts to ensure the preservation and enhancement of the urban landscape for future generations.
