One of the pilot sites of the Canal Plan is located in the Heyvaert district of Molenbeek, on the border with Anderlecht. Between the Godshuizen Bridge and the Guido Vanderhulst Bridge for pedestrians stands the Grote Hal. It invites you to walk in and cross over to the inner area of the block of houses, which has a few secrets to reveal. The project, a collaboration between L’Escaut and ZAmpone, not only aims to upgrade the canal axis and the crossing points, but also explores the reuse of industrial heritage and the recovery of water.

A series of interventions on a city-wide and neighbourhood scale will create a large public space that serves both as a thoroughfare and a place for social interaction. First of all, there is the hall that catches the eye along the canal. Under the enormous roof structure is a covered public space where entrepreneurs working in the adjacent building can meet. They also encounter the residents of the intergenerational housing located above the studios. A little further on, an old industrial chimney serves as a city barbecue, ideal for neighbourhood parties at the picnic area right next to it. The path continues along a wall with a continuous canopy, which serves as a signal to the street and hints at future events. On the other side, it opens onto Heyvaertstraat, a stone’s throw from Sennettepark.