PARTICIPATION-03: Construction of a Youth Pavilion in Etterbeek

Our municipality (Etterbeek / Brussels / Belgium) proposes to develop a Youth Pavilion in a public space located behind a social housing complex, as a pilot project to better understand and improve residents’ lived experience of their neighbourhood in terms of health and well-being.

The project focuses on young people aged 12–25 from a socially and culturally diverse area, including vulnerable youth who often lack safe, supportive environments. Through participatory research workshops, interviews and co-design sessions, young residents and neighbours will be invited to express how they perceive their environment, what affects their mental and social well-being, and how public space can better support inclusion, safety and belonging.

The pavilion will serve both as a co-created infrastructure and as a living lab. Designed with sustainable, low-carbon and nature-based solutions, it will offer a healthy, climate-adaptive and welcoming space. At the same time, it will host activities fostering social connection, dialogue and empowerment, all key determinants of well-being.

Managed by municipal youth services, the pavilion will provide structured yet inclusive programming, while continuously gathering feedback from users and local residents. This iterative approach will generate qualitative insights into how participatory design and sustainable public space can enhance community health, strengthen social cohesion and improve everyday life in dense urban neighbourhoods.