Islam Abdelkader
mises en scène


2019

Site-specific Intervention
Liège, Belgium





In the northern district of Liège, the historic Saint-Léonard prison stretches along Féronstrée to Rue du Potay, built between July 1847 and June 1850. Walking along Esplanade Saint-Léonard—the plaza now occupying the prison’s footprint—I noted how the air still carried traces of the demolished prison’s presence. As I drew scenes from the surroundings, and observed, I noticed teenagers and students casually gathered on the plaza, seeking pockets of privacy for quiet conversation, intimate moments, or rolling a cigarette. My camera often felt intrusive, inspiring me to envision an architectural intervention that could enhance their comfort—a hypothetical redesign of two corner step zones to serve as a sheltered, semi-private space. This area could act as an "urban living room," providing a sense of refuge within the public landscape.