Place du Luxembourg is a popular place for after-work drinks on Thursdays. But its chaotic layout of terraces has given it a bad name among authorities. This issue has now been tackled in the first step towards a more thorough redevelopment.
The bustling square in the heart of the European Quarter, opposite the European Parliament, is home to a variety of bars frequented mostly by people in the 'EU bubble'. The many covered terraces are popular with pub-goers, allowing people to sit outdoors in all weather. However, these 'fixed porch structures' violated town planning regulations.
"These unlicensed porches were an unacceptable detriment to the protected heritage of this neoclassical square," said Ixelles City Councillor for Town Planning, Yves Rouyet. The ensemble of neoclassical houses, including both the street façades and the buildings' roofs, was classified as a monument in 1992.
"These structures were not only unsightly and incoherent but also violated urban planning regulations, as they obstructed pedestrian traffic on the pavements [ed. some verandas extended up to nine metres from the façades] and restricted access to the flats above the commercial ground floors."
Bringing back grandeur
The authorities intervened to ensure more coherence. Following discussions with the affected business owners, the Ixelles municipality applied for a single licence for all bars and proceeded with the dismantling of all existing verandas, making the façades visible to the public again.
All terraces were recently fitted with uniform awnings (a type of covering that extends over the outdoor terrace) with telescopic arms.
Credit: Ans Persoons Cabinet
"We put an end to an encroachment that had lasted too long. The new awnings, with their homogeneous, retro aesthetic, illustrate that it is possible to reconcile heritage interests and commercial appeal," said Brussels State Secretary for Town Planning and Heritage, Ans Persoons.
Now, the area around the terraces is freed up, providing more space for pedestrians.
Persoons added that the new terrace and awning installations also bring back the grandeur of the listed façades, as seen on postcards from the end of the 19th century, which illustrate the harmony on the square. "The idea was to return to this type of installation and revive the past."
Credit: Ans Persoons Cabinet
The Traders' Committee, which assisted in the renovations, said the business owners on the square have now fulfilled their part of the contract. "We are now waiting for a redevelopment project that will make the square more attractive."
The Region has hinted at plans to launch a complete redevelopment of Place du Luxembourg in the next legislature, in collaboration with the Ixelles municipality. The aim is to upgrade the square's heritage, make it greener and more commercially attractive and improve comfort for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.
