From the very early days of 2014, the complete Shht crew was energetically down to work. By the end of January, after several months of intense work and sleepless nights from our editorial team, authors and contributors; our second issue Shht#2 Underground was finally ready. This number gives special attention to Brussels. Four articles, one interview and four thematic architecture itineraries, highlight the values and contradictions in the ongoing development of Brussels.

The official release of our second publication was the perfect occasion for the Shht Brussels Newsroom to introduce Shht, our project and mission, to our fellow Brussels citizens. Furthermore, it was a nice opportunity to involve interesting people including artists, architects and cultural associations in the organization of different activities for the first time in Brussels.

First, Shht#2 Underground was presented on January 23rd in the spaces of Recyclart Congrès, followed by the opening of a photography exhibition visible until February 8th for all the passengers and everyday users Bruxelles-Congrès station.

Two days later, the night walk Shht… tales of the underground, by the ghost of the river gathered more than 150 people (between public, artists and crew) in an excursion structured along one of the most important underground episodes in the history of Brussels.

The Vaulting of the River Senne in the XIX century (as the construction of the North-South Railway Jonction in the XX Century) was a mega infrastructural operation that changed completely the urban configuration of the city center; it carried out demolitions of entire neighborhoods and provided the platform for a new image for the city. We decided to tackle this underground theme in Shht#2 Underground through three articles (by authors Adrian Hill, Laura Vescina, Charles Bricman, Stephane Damsin, Sedaile Mejias and Diego Luna) and then to give it an experiential dimension through Shht… tales of the underground, by the ghost of the river in association with Nightscapes and with the support and collaboration of Recyclart, BUUR, Modell’o Printshop, Curo Hall,Cultureghem, BOB 361, ZSenne, BXL Swings in the Cracks and Expart.

During this experimental promenade we used different formats of performing and visual arts with the intention to explore in an unusual way, two very local (even unknown) neighborhoods, both built above a river long forgotten. Just by remembering the Senne and trying to follow its traces we discovered intriguing places full of qualities and with enormous potentials. This trip into the sub consciousness of Brussels was for us a nice first attempt to bring the debate to the next level, from the written words to an active experience of the city.

Shht #3 is now under production … therefore, we aim to finish 2014 as we started, with a new number coming out and new opportunities to meet interesting people and discover new faces of Brussels.

Please give a close look the complete program of Shht… tales of the underground, by the ghost of the river…