In 2050, the Woluwe valley will be a model of the water-conscious and liveable urban fringe. There are hardly any floods, heat island effects or droughts anymore, because all the rain that falls is reused locally or absorbed directly into the soil. Not a single drop is lost, the water is captured as much as possible. Humans and non-humans flourish in the valley. Children and local residents meet in a network of water schools, industrial estates have been transformed into water batteries for their surroundings, underground storm basins have been given wind towers, swamp, seasonal and infiltration districts are taking on a role and responsibility in the water chain on the basis of district water boards.

This transformation did not happen overnight, but was started by a Flemish-Brussels collaboration in 2022. Under the motto 'no drop wasted', various public and private actors built a multitude of water projects through new collaborations, which transformed the urban fringe into a resilient and water-conscious area where its residents like to live, work and recreate.

location: Brussels, BE
program: design research, water and soil
year: 2021
client: Brussels Bouwmeester BMA, Team Vlaams Bouwmeester
Perspective Brussels, Departement Omgeving
status: research completed
team: Fallow + 1010au
fallow team: Carmen Van Maercke, Michaël Stas, Manon Bourdin