Brussels, November 25-26-27, 2024 – The Brussels test lab dedicated to exploring just energy transitions, provided a collaborative space for researchers, policymakers, local organisations and community representatives from Italy, Turkey and Belgium to test co-developed innovative strategies for the implementation of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The initiative, led by the Belgian PED4ALL team, created an open platform for discussion on PED development with a strong focus on ensuring inclusivity and social equity. Taking place in Cureghem in Brussels, the lab explored how energy transitions can be accessible and embedded in the everyday lives of residents while tackling issues such as energy poverty and vulnerability, urban renewal, and energy transitions.
The three-day agenda included presentations, workshops, and discussions which provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange. The event began with a guided tour of the culturally diverse and socio-economically vulnerable neighbourhood of Cureghem in Brussels. It continued with a site visit to Abattoir, where all the recent innovative projects were presented, giving a particular focus on the cutting-edge energy transitions processes happening on the site. Notable presented projects included: Foodmet, a multifunctional market hall integrating food production and renewable energy; Manufakture, which explores stacked functions in building design to optimize resource use; and the covering of Abattoir’s rooftop with solar panels, enhancing local energy self-sufficiency. Additionally, the Dream Kitchen initiative was highlighted as a community-driven effort that repurposes unsold market produce into meals, supporting social inclusion and a sense of community. The visit concluded with a shared meal at Dream Kitchen, allowing participants to experience first-hand the initiative’s role in community engagement and sustainable food practices.
At the core of the event, the agenda of the Brussels TestLAB consisted of four studio sessions, and three groups working in parallel across three different cases in Cureghem. These interactive workshops served as experimental spaces where researchers, representatives of local organisations, practitioners, and community members worked together to refine and test co-designed PED strategies.
The event was launched with a presentation from Cultureghem, a Brussels-based socio-cultural organization and key PED4ALL project partner. Their role has been essential in engaging local residents, connecting with key neighborhood figures, understanding community needs, facilitating communication with local stakeholders, and building trust in the co-construction process of energy transition initiatives. During the presentation, they shared their experiences and the impactful work they do in collaboration with Cultureghem’s diverse community. In the following, a presentation was given by DUSS, a PED4ALL project partner which has been closely involved in the innovative and futuristic transformation process of the site of Abattoir.
At the core of the event, the agenda of the Brussels TestLAB consisted of four studio sessions, and three groups working in parallel across three different cases in Cureghem. These interactive workshops served as experimental spaces where researchers, representatives of local organisations, practitioners, and community members worked together to refine and test co-designed PED strategies. The three chosen cases were: 1) open block morphologies containing a few large buildings in an underdeveloped open space; 2) dense urban blocks consisting of residential and commercial functions, with large warehouses positioned at the center of the block; 3) very dense urban blocks, primarily composed of terraced houses with one or multiple households, and few open spaces, mainly in the form of private gardens. Initially, the participants were busy discovering the opportunities and challenges of these co-developed PED strategies based on contextual insights, policies, and planning practices from the three different countries. The multi-location setup allowed for a dynamic exchange of insights, bringing diverse perspectives to the challenges and opportunities of PED development in a complex urban context like Cureghem. In the following, they engaged in hands-on mapping exercises, scenario-building activities, analysis, policy reviews to develop, design, produce, and finaliza a set of PED strategies which will be included in the PED4ALL atlas of strategies a practical guide for the implementation of PEDs. Ensuring that these strategies are both practical and community-driven remained a key focus throughout the sessions.
The three chosen cases were: 1) open block morphologies containing a few large buildings in an underdeveloped open space; 2) dense urban blocks consisting of residential and commercial functions, with large warehouses positioned at the center of the block; 3) very dense urban blocks, primarily composed of terraced houses with one or multiple households, and few open spaces, mainly in the form of private gardens
The three-day TestLAB ended with a public event, where findings from the studio sessions were presented and discussed. This final session gathered local organizations, policymakers, and community representatives to reflect on the outcomes. The discussion provided a crucial opportunity to connect the research with local realities, ensuring that the strategies developed align with the needs and aspirations of Cureghem’s residents.
