Less than six years ago, the wooden structure now spanning the ‘new’ Recypark on the canal in Anderlecht was still a riding school in Liège. With the help of the reuse experts at Rotor, 26 solid laminated beams were salvaged and formed the basis for 51N4E’s design for the new recycling park and skate park.

On the site of a former industrial estate, the timber structure was positioned at an angle to the road running alongside the canal that connects Brussels with Charleroi. The unique location, easily accessible from the city yet at a safe distance from the densely populated residential areas, proved to be the ideal spot for this distinctive combination of facilities: a recycling park on the left and a skatepark on the right, designed by the French firm Les Marneurs in collaboration with the Finnish landscape architect Janne Saario. The skatepark was divided into two parts: beneath the covered hall lies a skate bowl, and in the remaining space between the hall and the canal, a concrete blue path winds like a snake – the snake run. Today, this area is still unplanted, but in the future, trees and grass will form the green signature of the Recypark.

As early as 2018, the project was awarded the Brussels Be.Exemplary prize for its ambitious circular objectives. As the reuse of structural elements is still in its infancy, the preliminary reuse process proved to be highly challenging from both a technical and logistical perspective. One of the key challenges was ensuring the structural integrity of the reused beams. To address this, the beams were tested, reinforced and supplemented with new beams (approximately half of the total number of beams are new). The project sets a compelling precedent not only in terms of circular construction. For the client, Net Brussels, the new Recypark is above all an inspiring pilot project – due to its proximity, small scale and unique programme – which can be replicated at multiple locations across the Brussels region in the future.