'Longest bench in Brussels' to stretch over 100 metres

The meridian strip separating Boulevard Poincaré from Boulevard du Midi in Anderlecht will soon be home to “the longest bench in Brussels,” according to mobility minister Pascal Smet. The minister announced the neighbourhood project during a neighbourhood New Year’s drink at Porte d’Anderlecht.

“The Porte d’Anderlecht is a part of Brussels with untapped potential,” he said. “That’s why this year we’re testing out infrastructure and all kinds of activities in this zone.”

One of those is ‘the longest bench’, one continuous bench that will be built on the cobblestoned meridian along Boulevard Poincaré. Led by construction co-operatives, different neighbourhood organisations will build sections of the bench, which will be joined together.

“The idea is to build a bench 100 metres long,” Bert De Backer of ConstructLab told Bruzz. “Every neighbourhood group can build part a piece about 10 metres long according to their own design. They can make it as crazy as they want – in the shape of a snake, for instance.”

The bench will be temporary, Smet confirmed. “It’s a precursor to the relaying of the meridian,” he explained. That project will be carried out by the winner of an ongoing design contest. Previously, the meridian was open to parking.

Any neighbourhood group wanting to help build the bench should contact ConstructLab before March.

Photos: The Meridian along Boulevard Poincaré has been host to a number of community events over the last few months
©Mobilite Brussels