Master dissertation by Marie Schaffers

This thesis explores the interplay between mass housing and commercial development in the Brussels periphery during the post-war period, highlighting how modernist principles and capitalist dynamics shaped suburban landscapes. It examines two key sectors: private housing developers, notably Etrimo and Amelinckx, and commercial actors such as Maurice Cauwe of GB Enterprises, who introduced American-inspired supermarket and hypermarket models.

The study situates these developments within the broader context of post-war reconstruction, motorization, and consumer society. Housing projects embraced modernist ideals of functionality and zoning, producing standardized high-rise apartments in green settings—the “apartment in a park” concept. Simultaneously, retail expansion responded to changing lifestyles, prioritizing accessibility via major roads and large parking facilities. Both sectors targeted the middle-class nuclear family and relied on mass production techniques, yet operated largely independently.

Archival research and case studies reveal that while residential and commercial growth often occurred in proximity, true integration was rare. Technical and organizational factors—such as differing construction methods and planning priorities—limited collaboration. Housing projects were typically cast in situ, requiring longer timelines and rigid sequencing, whereas supermarkets favored prefabrication for rapid deployment. This incompatibility reinforced sectoral autonomy, resulting in fragmented urban development.

The thesis concludes that suburban Brussels evolved through parallel strategies rather than coordinated planning. Despite shared modernist ambitions, the absence of structural integration produced a patchwork of housing estates and retail hubs, reflecting the tension between functionalist ideals and capitalist pragmatism. These dynamics underscore the need to view urban development as a co-production among multiple actors, while recognizing the constraints imposed by technical choices and governance frameworks.