The North-South connection, commissioned in 1952, generated vast spaces under the Gare du Midi railway tracks. These spaces are called “quadrilatères”. They are now unaffected and unoccupied. With around 23.000 m² lying derelict, this void strongly impacts the urban dynamic around the station.

The Region in collaboration with SNCB wishes to change this and therefore launches a call for interest for a feasibility study. The purpose of this study is to analyse the spatial and programmatic potentialities as well as the economic, technical, legal and urban feasibility of these three quadrilatères. This mission will make it possible to decide on their future, particularly in terms of new programmatic uses.

With specific regard to the small quadrilatère, the CRU 7 “Around the Gare du Midi” plans to set up a sports centre and a health centre on half of its surface area, aimed at the district’s most vulnerable residents. Recently, a temporary recreational and cultural occupation has been successfully tested, illustrating the full potential of this space. More generally, the CRU 7 also plans to improve the surrounding public spaces.

The programming will require to be in line with the needs of the SNCB and the station’s various users. Particularly in the case of the large quadrilatère, the future program will be directly next to the station’s entrance, and a synergy between the two should reinforce the station’s operation. In addition, the development of the “Rue Couverte”, which is also included in CRU 7, will largely depend on this dialogue between those two.

The aim is therefore to study the medium- and long-term development prospects for these three quadrilatères, in relation to their challenges potential and constraints. The team will need to need to identify and issue programming and urban planning guidelines for the site as a whole, taking into account its surroundings and its local, metropolitan and intermodal character.

• Architect – Urban planner
• Project finance expert
• MEP engineer
• Structural engineer
• Lawyer

• Quality of the comprehension note (30%)
• Quality of the methodological note (40%)
• Credibility of the total budget and planning of the study (20%)
• Relevance of the references (10%)

• Publication of the specifications: 21.08.2023
• Site visit and briefing: week of 04.09.2023
• Submission of tenders: 25.09.2023
• Presentation of tenders to the jury: beginning of October 2023
• Award of contract and start of the mission: beginning of November 2023
• End of the mission: Spring 2024

• The fees are fixed at € 100.000 incl. VAT