Research by design as tool of commoning. Reclaiming public spaces in Brussels metropolitan centre.

De Visscher, Jean-Philippe
(2018) International Association for the Study of the Commons - Celebrating commons scholarship — Location: Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA (4.October.2018)

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The pedestrianization of the central boulevards of Brussels has been a visionary political coup, but disconnected from any clear planning. In addition, the design of the project has many weaknesses. However, the project has had at least one major quality: it has opened a wide debate on the role of public spaces in the centre of the metropolis. The conflict between space for cars, and space for inhabitants and nature is now clearly on the agenda. But how moving forward on that topic? How bridging the gaps between the conflictual interests, means and agendas of the many private and public stakeholders? How crossing the boundaries between specialized studies? The presentation relates the methodology used by the Brussels Studies Institute_Brussels Center Observatory, a multidisciplinary and multi-university research platform. Its methodology is based on two principles: - Universities as ‘third actor’: through series of open-access publications, public exhibitions and debates, walks, workshops, etc. the BSI_BCO aims to activate new cooperations between public, private and associative stakeholders. - ‘Research by design’ as tool of co-production: through series of design explorations gathered into a large model of the Brussels metropolitan centre, the BSI_BCO aims to cross-fertilize academic, institutional and citizen’s knowledge. Looking backward, this experience could be analysed as a ‘practice of commoning’, where ‘research by design’ is the key tool. First, ‘research by design’ helps acknowledging space as a resource. The series of design build knowledge of potential alternative realities. As a consequence, present situations can be judged not only following their intrinsic qualities and failures, but also in comparison with what could be. Second, ‘research by design’ helps gathering all the stakeholders beyond social and legal boundaries. 3D models and drawings make specialized discourses much easier to understand. Above all, it helps the many stakeholders shift from a conservative struggle for their own interests, towards a more collaborative and open-minded approach. Third, ‘research by design’ makes abstract goals very concrete. It points out the strategic places where concrete pilot-projects could be experimented. It helps grounding future policies into an action-based and incremental process of experimentation.
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De Visscher, J.-P. (2018). Research by design as tool of commoning. Reclaiming public spaces in Brussels metropolitan centre. International Association for the Study of the Commons - Celebrating commons scholarship, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/172239