Victor Bourgeois’s Cité Moderne, almost a century-old project, embodies ideals of progress and community living. Its upcoming anniversary offers a chance to think about which modifications are necessary to keep these ideals alive for the future of the neighborhood.

The project aims at "updating" the public space tackling social and ecological issues while keeping intact the urban form and the visibility of the architectural oeuvre.

Two complementary figures, the Ridge and the Edge, shape this transformation:

the Ridge: the central axis of the original master plan, structuring the main streets. The aim is to rebalance the use of roadways between cars, pedestrians, and active mobility, while reinforcing the green infrastructure.

the Edge: a porous structure connecting the site to the open space of Zavelenberg, bringing together existing and future facilities.

The original lawns, once paved for motorization, are reintroduced as planted strips with tall trees. These ecological corridors provide shade, coolness, and rainwater buffering while supporting root development.

Front gardens and façade plantings are expanded or newly created, enriched with shrubs and herbaceous plants to revitalize flora, particularly preserving hawthorns, fostering biodiversity and community involvement.

Finally, strategically placed ornamental trees act as focal points, playing the landscape counterpart of the grandeur of the architecture.