“Ensuring that Charleroi’s Inner Ring Road (R9) plays a more positive role in the identity of the urban space” — that was the goal outlined in the brief established by the Walloon Region and the City of Charleroi in 2012. A thoughtful collaboration between the architects of RESERVOIR A, artist Jean Glibert, and lighting designer Jacques Fryns would go on to radically transform the R9.
Belgian architect and urban planner Jean Yernaux designed the general layout of the R9 in the 1970s. Divided into seven sections, it was neither conceived nor built uniformly. The different segments reflect two main typologies, depending on the materials chosen by the various designers: concrete and steel. Since its opening in 1975, the R9 has gradually deteriorated. Due to a lack of maintenance, the neglected zones have become genuine urban blights.
The restoration of the southern section began in 2014. It was carried out in two phases over a stretch of 1.8 kilometers, involving 15 bridges and viaducts and 9 access ramps. According to RESERVOIR A, the project was far from straightforward: “There are many challenges. The structures span the River Sambre, Charleroi-Central station and its railways, several roads, and entire neighborhoods.” The urban impact is undeniable, and changing public perception required more than just a simple renovation.
By using a neutral bronze color on the underside sections and a more vivid palette on the upper parts (beams, decks, and pier ends), artist Jean Glibert’s intervention enhances the floating quality inherent in the infrastructure. A total of 24 red and black color installations highlight the sculptural potential of the structure. Each area the R9 passes through gains a renewed identity. More than just an architectural project, this is a monumental work of art.
