The Dutch-language primary school Klavertje Vier is located in the north of Brussels, in a densely built-up and dynamic neighbourhood between the canal and the railway line. With the redevelopment of the school’s forecourt, Emilie Bechet and Thomas Willemse kicked off the School Contract, the regional urban renewal programme of perspective.brussels.

The Helihaven neighbourhood is characterised by the contrast between the green clusters of densely packed residential towers and the busy thoroughfares where no motorist obeys the speed limits. The excessively wide streets are symbolic of an outdated urban planning vision in which the car was still central. Today, however, users find them annoying and unsafe. In response to the competition launched by perspective.brussels in 2019, the Act. collective proposed a sustainable urban redevelopment plan that actively involved local stakeholders. The area to be redeveloped, divided by fences and walls, suffered from a serious lack of structural facilities. The biggest challenge of this project, which was completed in 2024, was to redesign the forecourt in a recognisable way. It had to become a space that users could appropriate and where it was pleasant to meet. But road safety also had to be improved. That is why two large trees were planted at each of the entrances to slow down car traffic. The complete reconstruction of the forecourt and the three widened crossings also created an inviting and safe space for young children. Because this part of the avenue was too small for a radical approach, subtle interventions were chosen to connect the whole and ensure unity and cohesion. Special attention was paid to the paving of the forecourt: many paving stones were reused and the joints were opened up to promote greening and water infiltration. The red clay pavers add a playful accent, making the avenue more lively and colourful. And thanks to the expansion of the green and water-permeable surface in the neighbourhood, the forecourt is not only a functional space, but also a green space.