Valorizing the unoccupied spaces on top of central commerces.
The Challenge
An urban planning guide dating from June 2015 requires all of Namur’s ‘broader’ buildings (those with facades larger than 6m) to assure independent access to the floors so that both the commercial activities ‘downstairs’ and housing ‘upstairs’ are comfortable for their occupiers. However, many of Namur’s central streets house narrow buildings (with less than 6 m frontage). Valorizing these buildings to their full potential – by making their top floors accessible and fit for housing or other activities – requires alternative and innovative solutions!
Hence, the objective is to come up with solutions that facilitate access to the floors of Namur’s narrow buildings and to open new perspectives for housing and other activities. One famous example is the ‘pooling’ of existing entrances to two adjacent buildings, or providing for additional access via the backside of the building.
Namur wants to stimulate mixed housing within its lively city center, while preserving its quality facades. The city challenges you to find ways to effectively occupy the empty spaces above the cities ample shops, while increasing the number of housing units, boosting center life and securing the urban space.
City of Namur
Like the other 261 Walloon municipalities, the City of Namur is active in many areas that affect us all sooner or later, whether civic, educational, urbanistic or other. Namur is granted the special status of regional capital, famous touristic destination and home base of ample knowledge institutes providing educational services for thousands of students. It also houses the headquarters of many institutions and companies going far beyond the communal borders.
Namur is positioning itself as a smart city by (re-)thinking (of) its services, mobility, heritage, culture and tourism, waste management, amongst others. Related projects strongly reflect the city’s strong historical ties, its central geographical position, its status of regional capital and university and innovative city.
The team that provides the most promising solution to their challenge will be offered the opportunity to exchange with the City of Namur, in particular with the Head of Cabinet and City Counsel of Urban Planning, Urban Attractiveness and Employment, Mrs Claire Duhaut.
Create Your Solution To The Challenges
WORKSHOP
To solve the above challenges, we recommend you take part in the “Cities of Belgium Challenge You” workshop in the ‘Hackable Cities ’ theme on Day 1.
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EXPERTS
Make sure to also have a talk with the Namur City Marketing Expert, Frank Marchal. Don’t forget to pull the sleeves of Martine Delannoy. She is your Cities Curator at Hack Belgium and your lead expert, connector and coach throughout the 3 day event.
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About the Cities Societal Theme
By 2050, 2 in 3 people worldwide will likely live in cities. Cities are our future, one we must create together. To embrace the creative potential of cities and achieve the sustainable development goals, we have to question our ways of doing things. Let’s start hacking the cities of the future!
Visit the Cities Societal Theme page
Visit the My Journey page to learn more on how you should organise your 3 Days. Lots of other Ideation, business, design and technology workshops to pick. Don’t forget to also visit the Experience Zone.
