So that the Stock Exchange is not only a tourist and cultural place, but also a place of life, meetings and discoveries for all Brussels residents, a participatory process is underway to think about this space, its different functions and activities, its events and its management with local, social and cultural associations, neighborhood committees, traders, businesses, schools, motivated residents, etc. In view of the reopening of the Stock Exchange, stakeholders (local, social and cultural associations and more) are invited to three meeting times. In the long term, these associations are also invited to participate in the management committee of the Stock Exchange which monitors requests for entertainment and occupation of public spaces.
Problems and objectives
The Stock Exchange is divided into several distinct but also complementary places.
On the one hand, the Brussels Stock Exchange develops economic activities: the “Belgian Beer World” (multimedia tour around Belgian brewing culture), the Bruxella 1238 archaeological site, Horeca and co-working spaces.
On the other hand, the Stock Exchange is also a public space, with a central gallery including benches, public toilets, an exhibition/meeting room, etc. The management and animation arrangements for these public spaces were to define.
With the renovation of the Stock Exchange in 2023, the objective was to better highlight it and make it accessible to everyone. This accessibility is considered through different potential uses of public space, whether spontaneous activities or scheduled activities. The ambition is that everyone can take ownership of this new public space.
History and context
The Brussels Stock Exchange was built in 1869-1873 by the architect L.-P. Suys as part of the development of the Boulevards du Centre. The building has four levels (basement, a basement, a ground floor and a first floor).
In 2023, a vast restoration and complete renovation project of this prestigious building is underway. The major stages of this project include: the transformation of the monumental nave into a public gallery crossing the upper floor, the installation of a permanent and interactive exhibition on Belgian beer – recently listed as UNESCO's world intangible heritage. – as well as the renovation of the archaeological site “Bruxella 1238”, made accessible via the building of the old Stock Exchange. This project also includes the restoration of the large room on the ground floor and the main lounges on the upper floors, as well as that of the facades, roofs and interior decorations of the most significant spaces of the old Stock Exchange.
Contemporary architectural interventions will also be carried out, such as the widening of the two entrances to the side facades and the renewal of vertical circulation, service and evacuation; a new monumental staircase going from 0 to 2nd floor as well as a roof terrace on the 4th floor will be built. In addition, a work of art in mosaic and terrazzo will be integrated into the floors of the large nave on the 1st floor as well as three chandeliers under the peristyle on the Place de la Bourse side and one under the pediment on Rue du Midi.
In particular, it is a question of improving accessibility for people with reduced mobility by creating a new side entrance and vertical circulation allowing access to the different floors, including the 'Bruxella 1238' site.
Organizing, supporting and financing organizations
The Stock Exchange, The City of Brussels
Recruitment and selection of participants
A list of stakeholders has been created. It is made up of local associations within a perimeter around the Stock Exchange and associations which, due to their cultural, social or economic specificity, could be interested in organizing activities within the Stock Exchange and which reach a specific target audience.
Email and telephone contact was organized with each of these 40 associations.
Methods and tools used
For the design of the participatory process, the placemaking method was used. This method takes place in 5 steps:
- Definition of location and stakeholders
- Evaluation of the space and identification of themes to discuss
- Development of a common vision and an action plan
- A short-term experiment
- Continuous and long-term evaluation
After compiling the list of stakeholders, the participants of the participatory process were invited to a preview tour of the location. Then, they thought about potential uses of public space. The result: a list of 73 potential activities to be organized at the Stock Exchange.
At the same time, the Stock Exchange team also made contact with 3 examples of similar locations: Paris 104, in Hallen Amsterdam, Les workshops des Capucins in Brest. An element retained from all these meetings was the fact that none of the places has firm regulations regarding the behavior of users.agers.
During a second workshop, the services to be provided to the organizing associations and recommendations related to living together were formulated.
The third workshop made it possible to create a mission and introduce the notion of pillars to support the functioning of the Stock Exchange.
What happened: processes, interactions and participation
Here are the steps of the participatory process:
03/16 : preview visit to the Stock Exchange
03/17 : workshop 1 “my ideas and wishes for the Stock Market”
04/21 : workshop 2 “services and living together at the Stock Exchange”
12/05 : workshop 3 “the pillars of the Stock Exchange”
09/09 : official opening
05/12 : management committee application breakfast
Influence, results and effects
A call for applications was launched, addressed to the 40 associations which followed the participatory process, in order to create a management committee. This will be made up of the daily team of the Stock Exchange, accompanied by 6 citizen members:
- 3 associations or committed citizens
- 1 economic actor
- 2 citizens with expertise in participation/inclusion
This management committee will be the first pillar on which the operation of the Stock Exchange will be based.
Then, the entire network of actors who participated in the participatory process is asked to organize activities at the Stock Exchange. These activity organizers will constitute the second pillar of the Stock Exchange. The third pillar will be made up of people who want to be kept informed of the outcome of activities.
An evaluation of the functioning of these public places with stakeholders is planned annually.
Analysis and lessons learned
A management committee made up of several people who participated in the participatory process will ensure compliance with the mission statement and the management framework that was co-created.
external links
https://patrimoine.brussels/news/la-bourse-evolution-du-chantier