Rebirth from Industrial Ruins

16:45 - 17:15

La Centrale, Nuvola Lavazza

From a military site to a space for creativity and ecology. An example of urban transformation that addresses people’s needs.

Asiat Park, located in Vilvoorde just north of Brussels, is a former military site repurposed into a vibrant creative and ecological urban park.

Over 6,000 m² of concrete has been removed to reintroduce green spaces, walking paths, and play areas, encouraging both biodiversity and human activity. Hidden among heritage warehouses and vegetation, Asiat Park blends raw industrial aesthetics with lush landscaping, hosting a mix of facilities: event halls, studios, cafés, a coffee roastery, skate hall, yoga studios, and more—creating a rich urban ecosystem .

Managed by cultural collective Onkruid Studio (recognized with a 2024 Ultimas Award), the site is now a cultural focal point, offering festivals like Horst Arts & Music (13,000 visitors/day in 2025), exhibitions, and community programming. Asiat Park also supports ecological projects, including stormwater retention and habitat-friendly design—recasting it as a living laboratory for sustainable urban regeneration.

Brussels

Mattias Staelens Co-Founder

Onkruid Studio

Mattias Staelens is a Brussels-based architect and partner at Onkruid Studio. He spearheaded the design transformation of Asiat Park leading the “de‑paving” of concrete, site programming, and curation of cultural initiatives such as Horst. His work earned Onkruid the Ultimas Award for cultural entrepreneurship in 2024.

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