2013-11-27 – The official opening ceremony was held today for all the homes in the ‘Matériaux’ complex, in the presence of the Brussels Minister for the Environment, Energy and Urban Regeneration and the Mayor of Anderlecht.
This sustainable project consisting of 36 passive dwellings and 83 low-energy dwellings and with a total upstairs floorspace of 14,000 m², located by the Canal in Anderlecht, nestles between Quai de l’Industrie, Rue des Matériaux and Rue du Constructeur. The 119 homes in four buildings built in the interior of an urban block, include one- to three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and a detached house; all homes have their own terrace.
Particular care has been taken to make this a pleasant place to live. Access to the individual homes is gained from a common area featuring an ornamental pond which collects rainwater. The collective gardens within the block are designed to promote biodiversity. For the children, there are a playground and a crèche with 28 places. A barbecue shelter and two bike sheds complete the facilities.
The 109 parking spaces and direct access to public transport (just a few minutes’ walk from Delacroix metro stop) ensure easy access to this new district.
The development’s construction has been made possible through a partnership between the Brussels Region (citydev.brussels) and various private promoters (SA Eiffage Benelux), who prefinanced the operation.
citydev.brussels: a record of activity in the Canal Area
The Matériaux site is a successful example of a disused industrial site that has been rehabilitated. It is very much in keeping with the Canal-Midi Sustainable District Contract. This district of Brussels is evolving into a pleasant place to live. In more general terms, the Canal Area looks set to become an attractive location with a high-quality urban lifestyle.
The president of citydev.brussels pointed out that “citydev.brussels has a long record of activity by the Canal with projects such as Rive Gauche, Cheval Noir, Chien Vert, Terrasses de l’Ecluse and De Bonne. With Matériaux, we have confirmed our role as a proactive force behind the injection of fresh dynamism into the Canal Area and more generally into the urban fabric of various districts characterised by a shortage of residential construction.”
The managing director of citydev.brussels explained that “The Matériaux development in this part of the Canal Area near the Abattoirs is playing its part in the urbanisation of part of the municipalityof Anderlecht– one which, we should remember, is sparsely populated, on a site that has been abandoned for over 20 years. Reconnecting this district with the rest of the city situates Matériaux on a continuum between the city centre and the Chaussée de Mons.”
