The Belgian city of Ghent transformed 22 streets into playful parks and outdoor relaxation ares as part of its Living Streets project. The project aims to encourage a sustainable future by ridding the streets of cars and toxic car emissions.
The streets were completely transformed by adding grass, picnic tables, benches and playgrounds for children. The entire scene was a summer stay-cation for the city. With this gesture, Living Streets not only encouraged environmentally friendly acts, but it also solidified the city's sense of community.
The large city-wide car-free initiative was created by Lab of Troy. The ultimate goal is to create the ideal city of tomorrow. By creating an environment that disregards cars it allows citizens to fully understand the effects of pollution through hands-on experiences and exercises.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Car-free Living
- The Living Streets project in Belgium is creating a trend towards car-free living by transforming streets into parks and promoting sustainable futures.
- Playful Urban Design
- The Living Streets project in Ghent is inspiring a new trend in urban design that incorporates playfulness in public spaces.
- Community Building
- The Living Streets project in Ghent is emphasizing the importance of community building through transforming streets into parks.
Where This Applies
- Urban Planning
- The Living Streets project in Ghent could disrupt the urban planning industry by encouraging a shift away from car-centric cities and towards more pedestrian-friendly designs that incorporate green spaces.
- Environmental Sustainability
- The Living Streets project in Ghent is promoting environmental sustainability in the transportation industry by encouraging people to reduce their reliance on cars and seek alternative modes of transportation.
- Public Recreation
- The Living Streets project in Ghent is driving innovation in the public recreation industry by turning streets into summer parks and creating new opportunities for outdoor leisure activities.
