Four living labs
Seven urban streets
The toolkit was tested in seven locations to evaluate its impact, transferability and scalability.
Brussels
Ropsy Chaudron
activities took place on 25/6, 26/6, and 28/6/2024
The Ropsy Chaudron street runs along the northwestern edge of the “Abattoir”, which gets its name from Brussels’ old slaughterhouse and cattle market area. The street has also been a valuable link to the Charleroi canal, which allowed for the transport of goods along waterways. Nowadays, this part of the Cureghem neighbourhood boasts an open market along with other community and cultural activities.
Herzieningslaan – Boulevard de la Révision
activities took place on 3/7, 10/7, and 17/7/2024
The Boulevard de la Révision is a wide urban boulevard with greenery providing shade to pedestrians walking along it. In the past, the boulevard provided a much wider promenade space to pedestrians. Today, however, large parts of the boulevard’s median have been dedicated to parking spaces, as can be seen in the image above.
Both of these locations were part of a transport plan that attempted to rethink Brussels’ mobility priorities. This plan, however, received huge backlash over its partial implementation, and there is now perhaps an opening to reopen a constructive dialogue regarding streets and transport planning in the area.
Istanbul
YOĞURTÇU PARK STREET
activities took place on 22-23/5/2024
Despite efforts to prioritise pedestrians, traffic congestion remains an issue, with parking areas consistently filled throughout the day, mainly utilised by nearby businesses. Yoğurtçu Park serves as a central public space, attracting diverse age groups and doubling as a waiting area due to its proximity to public transportation stops. Recent initiatives by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality have enhanced the area’s amenities, including seating elements within the park and along public transportation stops. The neighbourhood’s urban landscape features a mix of old and new structures, catering to middle to upper-income residents attracted by its central location and diverse commercial offerings. High rental prices indicate demand from both local and non-local populations, making it a dynamic and sought-after area.
Stockholm
Söder Mälarstrand
activities took place on 25-27/09/2024
Söder Mälarstrand is a 2 km-long waterfront on the island of Södermalm. The quay hosts houseboats and other boats used for events and maritime services. However, it is partly disconnected from the rest of the neighbourhood due to the fault slopes on one side and the water on the other. Nowadays, it’s principally used as a recreational passage for walking and jogging and as a parking area. In the recently released municipal strategy, Söder Mälarstrand is pointed out as one with high priority, and the dialogue and work within the Living Lab is a starting point for its transformation to a more attractive and dynamic space.
Vienna
Lambertgasse
activities took place on 5/6 – 14/6/2024
Lambertgasse is a calm residential street of the 16th district, in the western part of the city, with many residential buildings. A community garden functions as a meeting place for residents. There are also some benches to sit on, but not on the street itself. The only existing café closed in 2023. Although it is a residential street, no one uses it as such, even though it has a lot of trees. Some cars pass through or look for rather scarce parking spaces.
Rahlgasse
activities took place on 11/10 – 18/10/2024
By contrast, Rahlgasse in the sixth district is a much busier street in a central location. It is lined with a mix of residential buildings, shops, cafés, a cinema and a large school community. The school, which has insufficient break rooms, would like to see traffic-calming measures introduced on the street. However, local doctors and businesspeople are critical of this idea. Many delivery services drive to and from this residential street.