Plan to make Place Flagey greener gets go-ahead

Permits for a project to make Place Flagey and Place Sainte-Croix in Ixelles greener have been officially approved by Urban.brussels, with works to begin as soon as this autumn or by December.

The aim of the greening efforts, which include adding shrubs, plants and trees that will provide shade, is to improve the neighbourhood's quality of life and increase biodiversity.

The plans to make both public spaces greener were announced in 2021, Bruzz reports, opening the way for architects and construction firms to bid on the work.

Firms Kollektif Landscape, Ecorse and Fallow jointly submitted the winning project. Their plans retain the central open space on both squares and add greenery to the peripheral areas.

Permanently-occuring activities on the square, such as the fair and the weekly market, were also taken into account.

The modifications to the squares should help cool the plazas during the summer months, fighting the urban heat island effect.

Additional planting areas will also be created to drain excess rainwater into a storm basin under Flagey.

A total of 72 native trees will be planted around Place Flagey, and 22 at Sainte-Croix. In doing so, the aim is to provide a variety of flowering, texture and growth using native flora.