Northern Quarter

Northern Quarter may refer to:

Northern Quarter (Brussels)

The Northern Quarter (French: Quartier Nord (Espace Nord), Dutch: Noordruimte) is the central business district of Brussels, Belgium. Like La Défense in Paris, the Docklands in London or the Zuidas in Amsterdam, the Northern Quarter consists of a concentrated collection of high-rise buildings.

The Northern Quarter roughly covers the area between Willebroek Quay, railways along the Brussels-North railway station and the north side of the small ring. The territory is thus split between the municipalities of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek and the City of Brussels.

The area is characterized by high-rise buildings, most around 100 m tall. Over half of the 20 tallest buildings in Belgium are located in the Northern Quarter. The area has around 1,200,000 m² (13,000,000 sq ft) of office space occupied by 40,000 workers. It has an additional 8000 residents.

History

The creation of the business district was controversial. The demolition of a built-up and occupied residential area around Brussels-North railway station was not universally appreciated. Over 15,000 residents were forced out. Shortly after the first rows of residences were demolished, an economic crisis struck, leaving a gaping hole of open space in the city. The area has since filled up with skyscrapers.

Northern Quarter (Manchester)

Coordinates: 53°28′56″N 2°14′04″W / 53.482289°N 2.23435°W / 53.482289; -2.23435

The Northern Quarter (N4 or NQ) is an area of Manchester city centre, England, generally marked out between Piccadilly, Victoria and Ancoats, and centred on Oldham Street, just off Piccadilly Gardens. It was an invention of the 1990s, defined and named as part of the regeneration and gentrification of Manchester.

A centre of alternative and bohemian culture, the area is usually considered to be contained within Newton Street (borders with Piccadilly Basin), Great Ancoats Street (borders with Ancoats), Back Piccadilly (borders with Piccadilly Gardens) and Swan Street/High Street (borders with Shudehill/Arndale). Popular streets include Oldham Street, Tib Street, Newton Street, Lever Street, Dale Street, Hilton Street and Thomas Street.

History

Early history

Although the town of Manchester existed from medieval times (and had previously been the site of a Roman settlement), the area now designated as the Northern Quarter was not fully developed until the late 18th century.