Team: D’Ieteren Immo, Makettt

The former D'Ieteren car factory stands on the border between Anderlecht and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean/Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, near the Brussels canal. Today, this vast site, with its many large factory buildings, is being temporarily used as a hub for the circular economy: a micro-ecosystem for sustainable businesses and start-ups, cultural sector actors and local residents.

The temporary occupation is all about achieving maximum impact with limited resources and plenty of creativity. Existing structures and facilities are used as much as possible. The large factory buildings offer great versatility, with lots of open space and interior height – perfect for production workshops. Materials from one building are taken down and used in other buildings, and facilities are shared wherever possible to foster collaboration, synergies and interaction.