The 'bricks' project, spanning three summers, aims to create bricks from local earth to build a small amphitheater in the Trois Tilleuls neighborhood. This initiative draws inspiration from the brickworks that accompanied the construction of the Garden Cities 100 years ago. Carried out in partnership with Le Logis-Floréal, it is part of the 101e% program by the SLRB (Société du Logement de la Région bruxelloise), focused on unique art installations in social housing sites.
Following an initial phase at Place du Logis, the Avenue des Dryades hosted a new clay pit this summer. Adrien Tirtiaux and Farah Aissa, key figures in this summer's project, worked with residents to make numerous bricks for the future amphitheater near Trois Tilleuls.
Farah Aissa, a resident of Boitsfort for 17 years, is actively involved in local activities through the Espace Mosaïque and the Maison de quartier. She describes her commune as a nurturing environment, fostering a connection with nature and a strong social network. She emphasizes the importance of contact with the earth for human well-being.
As a project volunteer, she guided residents throughout the summer in brick-making, acting as a facilitator. She listens to participants' stories, from elders sharing memories to younger individuals discovering the material. While not everyone is interested, the project has been met with positive reception, emphasizing respect and openness. Farah Aissa values simplicity, community, and shared creation, viewing it as a return to essentials and an experience of 'real life'.
She often tells young passersby, 'If you know how to make a brick, you know how to build your house!' The project is particularly popular with children, who are amazed by the process. She has also welcomed teenagers, noting that working with clay can broaden perspectives for those who might otherwise seem disengaged.
The season concluded at the end of September with a 'Brick Festival'. The pit created by brick-making at Dryades will become a small pond, contributing to the neighborhood's biodiversity. The project will continue in spring 2027 with a third clay pit near Place Jules Messine, followed by the amphitheater construction in autumn 2027, near the Trois Tilleuls roundabout.
This amphitheater project aligns harmoniously with the spirit of Boitsfort and is expected to benefit all generations, a contribution that Farah Aissa is happy to be a part of.
