The Metrolab research project aims to support European urban development policies, which in turn could lead to environmental, social and economic improvements in Brussels.
Metrolab is part of a vast European public policy programme, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which aims to promote European Union regional development, including that of the Brussels Capital Region. The ERDF supports 46 projects addressing various topics and three overall sustainable development areas relevant to making cities:
- more socially inclusive;
- greener and more environmentally respectful;
- ‘smarter’ and open to technology.
Investment exceeds €200 million. Metrolab was created to maximise this investment’s effect in urban areas. ‘Our project is one of the 46 and involves making university research available for reinforcing and improving the other projects’, explains UCL sociology professor and Metrolab General Coordinator Mathieu Berger. ‘This kind of university support for public policy is a first in Brussels.’
Projects supported by the EDRF and supervised by Metrolab in the communes of Brussels are very diverse: redeveloping a food centre in Anderlecht; renovating and converting a medieval abbey into a cultural centre in Forest; opening a health care clinic for the neediest in Cureghem; developing a sport and recreation centre at the race course in Boitsfort; and many more.
Strength of interdisciplinarity
Metrolab is also one of the projects of Louvain4City, a structure for researchers interested in issues concerning towns, cities and living together in diversity. Metrolab’s team includes 24 researchers of the Université catholique de Louvain and the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
‘In addition to its interuniversity character,’ Prof. Berger says, ‘the project is multidisciplinary, bringing to bear four of the main research disciplines involved in a city’s development: sociology, architecture, urban planning and geography. Thus we can address most urban projects and pursue a comprehensive vision to increase the chances of their leading to relevant applications in the field.’ Since they can exercise independence vis-à-vis EDRF-funded urban projects, Metrolab researchers benefit from the perspective necessary for identifying project potential and limits.
International ‘MasterClasses’
With this in mind, Metrolab organises MasterClasses that address each of the three sustainable development areas. ‘It’s a scientific and educational experience through which four projects are analysed’, Prof. Berger explains. ‘Our first MasterClass, last January, addressed social inclusion projects: renovating the Anderlecht slaughterhouse, transforming the Boitsfort race course into a recreational space, turning the Forest Abbey into a cultural centre, and opening a Médecins du Monde health care clinic in Cureghem. The challenge was coming up with proposals to increase the inclusiveness of these projects, to make them accessible to as many people as possible. Thus how do we make a market in a working-class neighbourhood in Anderlecht accessible to a more affluent public without sacrificing local identity? How do we make the recreational areas at the race course in Boitsfort – a wealthy Brussels commune – accessible to the entire Brussels population, especially to the families of modest means?’
Over two weeks, researchers and students of European and North American universities worked on these questions in order to propose relevant, concrete improvements to project leaders. ‘And it worked’, Prof. Berger says. ‘After the presentation of our findings and suggestions, the Anderlecht slaughterhouse owner told us he would revise his project.’ Two more MasterClasses are planned, on environmental and economic issues respectively.
Field research
In parallel to these international events, Metrolab-affiliated researchers work year-round with project leaders in the field. Analysing projects from a desk is out of the question. ‘I think it’s essential to break down the barriers between theoretical research and practical experimentation’, Prof. Berger says. ‘Reciprocal disinterest between theoreticians and practitioners is extremely detrimental to the human and social sciences. At Metrolab, we campaign to bring them together.’
Elise Dubuisson
A glance at Mathieu Berger's bio
2002 Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, UCL
2008/2009 Research residency, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
2009 Doctorate in Social and Political Sciences, ULB
2011 Professor of Sociology, UCL
2012/2013 Visiting Professor, New School for Social Research, New York
2015 Founded Metrolab Brussels