#12: Reimagine Mechelen pt.1 - Water as the Source of Urban Public Space

with
Nicole La Iacoma (City of Mechelen)

Have you ever wondered how to give nature a voice in urban development? 🌱 The City of Mechelen in Belgium 🇧🇪 does exactly that while reimagining the connection between water, public spaces, animals, plants, and people.

In this episode:

🌊 How the City of Mechelen is giving back the River Dijle to its inhabitants...

⚖️ How public administration needs to seek compromises between interests...

👩‍💼 Why being a civil servant is the most difficult job there is...

🎨 How including artists in co-creation/participation processes might lead to a cultural shift...

💡 How fun and positive energy are key to innovation...

More and more cities are reimagining their connection to rivers, ponds, and other water bodies. Historically, cities turned their back to the water, which was used primarily for economic purposes. In the 21st century, however, this perception has shifted significantly: water in cities is now seen as a source of livability and sustainability. 💧

The City of Mechelen has taken a groundbreaking approach to reconnect its inhabitants—humans, animals, and plants alike—to the water. As part of the “Water as the Source of Urban Public Spaces” project running from 2024 to 2027 (funded by the European Urban Initiative, Mechelen is radically reshaping the face of the city along the River Dijle, ensuring everyone has access to the water and making the more-than-human perspective a core principle of the transformation. WATSUPS demonstrates how the spirit and principles of the New European Bauhaus can be translated into local, innovative actions. 🏙️

More information and materials mentioned in the podcast: 

·      European Urban Initiative

·      Portico - The Gateway to Urban Learning 

·      Article: Beautiful, Sustainable, Together: Reimagining Mechelen’s Relationship with Water, Biodiversity in Urban Public Space while Tackling Gentrification