Pocket gardens
'Pocket gardens' are elevated public spaces and were present in the streets of Brussels from 15 August until 15 September 2004.
Because cars and their parking spaces take up most of the streets in inner city neighbourhoods, it has become very difficult for children to claim a space to play or for grown-ups to sit outside. Less space for unplanned encounter in a sense implies less 'city'. That is why Y. Denayer, R. Menestret and F. Fraeys developed 'pocket gardens'.
A pocket garden is a large strip, covered with a wooden terrace and accessible via a swimming pool ladder, and secured against falling of by a tennis-net around the sides. In the summer of 2004 six pocket gardens travelled through Saint-Josse and the City of Brussels. They were placed alongside the pavement and were freely accessible for local residents and passers-by. They were used to brunch, barbecue, dance, play theatre and even tan.
The pocket gardens were sponsored by the Fondation Roi Boudoin, hors categorie 2004 and the Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie.
Ongoing projects:
L-Atlas
Precare
Generalized Empowerment
Krax
Micronomics
Cartografie
Bouillot
Publications:
Bunker Souple Repertorium 1998 & 2000: available at Citymine(d) offices.
Generalized Empowerment. Uneven Development and Urban Interventions, 2006. Download here.
MapRAC. Plannen voor het RijksAdministratief Centrum. La Cité Administrative de l'Etat en cartes & en question, 2004: available at Citymine(d) offices.
Micronomics scanning: DVD online soon.
Networkbook for Urban P/Arts. 42 initiatives capturing London's Public Space, 2004: available at Citymin(e)d offices.
Towards. Cartes Subjectives d'interventions Urbaines à Bruxelles // Subjectieve Kaarten van Stedelijke Internventies in Brussel: available at Citymine(d) offices.