Historic wooden benches in Brussels North Station make way for metal seats
In the Brussels North Station, the wooden benches have been replaced by new metal seats. That is not to the liking of many Brussels residents and commuters. They express their displeasure on social media and mainly see a way to sleep on the couches.
The replacement of the wooden benches by a metal construction is part of the renovation of the North Station. The wooden benches have gone to the circular company Roto Deconstruction.
Pieter Fannes discusses the change on social media. ‘The North Station in Brussels had beautiful wooden benches where you could wait for the train in style,’ he says. ‘Made for eternity, but replaced by human-unfriendly monstrosities.’
Good enthusiasm
Fannes likes to see the wooden benches reappear in their original place and plans for an action. ‘After some research we found out that the architectural firm 51N4E bought the wooden benches with a backrest from Rotor Deconstruction. So there is no incentive to install that furniture yet.’
They have been replaced by these ‘people-unfriendly’ single seats.
Photo: Pieter Fannes via Twitter
‘In the first procedures we try to preserve as many historical elements of the station as possible,’ says van Dimitri Temmerman. ‘For example, we have kept the Noordster in the main hall of the station. At the same time, we also have to make choices for the comfort and safety of travelers. That is why the choice was made to replace the wooden benches with new, metal ones.’
common sense
As in other places in Brussels, the new benches have dividers for individual seating. Those dividers discourage you from going to rest on the couch. “Homeless people can no longer sleep there either,” read some indignant reactions on social media. That is the purpose of this change. Dystopian and rock hard, with winter on the way. Inhuman.’
Or even: ‘When the desire for people to sleep without reducing it is greater than common sense.’
