Leopold Park Extension

Momentary association

Programme: The project is part of a Beliris contract for the redevelopment of various entrances to the Leopold Park and the design of a new section along the Maelbeek Street.

About: This project that MSA / NEY has been carrying out for several years is a work that we characterise as "patient research". It is indeed a question of intervening "in" and "in extension" of a listed park opened to the public in 1880, rich in history and characteristic of an English-style landscaped park. For several years, this park has been under pressure to be privatised by certain institutions inside and outside the park. Against this trend, the work carried out by MSA/NEY aimed to affirm the public character of the Leopold Park by clarifying and creating new accesses, opening it up more to the public. The design of the new paths extends the historical layout system to extend the visual perception of the park. It also provides large extensions of grassy ovals where these are feasible. At the bottom of the park, a new storm water basin has been installed to reduce the risk of flooding, which is frequent in this area. On this basin, a large playground extends where all the furniture and children's games were designed by MSA / NEY (swings, slide, play sculpture, seats etc.). This hydraulic infrastructure is made invisible by the playground, whose enormous sandpit functions as a large filter for rainwater. At the top of the park, another large infrastructure is hidden under a new garden, reminiscent of an old zoo ostrich pen.