From 4–7 June 2026, the exhibition Samen Stroom Opwaarts took place in the Watersportbaan in Ghent. Rather than presenting data or technical analyses, the exhibition brought together residents, policymakers, housing actors and social organisations through stories from the neighbourhood, opening up a shared reflection on what a just energy transition means in practice.
A neighbourhood intransition
The Watersportbaan, one of the CO2PED case study areas, is undergoing major changes: a move towards fossil-free energy, plans for a collective heating network, large-scale renovations and demolitions, and significant relocation challenges. Within this context, social housing tenants are often left on the sidelines.
Starting from this context, the exhibition raised a key question: what does the energy transition mean for people who do not own their homes? For many tenants, decisions about renovations, energy systems or solar panels remain out of reach, while energy costs continue to rise. By foregrounding these lived realities, the exhibition highlighted how the transition is not only technical, but deeply social — shaping everyday life, social relations and the future of neighbourhoods.
Walking through stories
Structured as a walk with seven stops across the neighbourhood, the exhibition featured audio, video and installations sharing residents’ experiences, complemented with contributions from local organisations. Instead of graphs, visitors encountered real voices: stories of concern, adaptation and often invisible efforts toward sustainability. The exhibition made visible practices of care, solidarity and resourcefulness, bridging the gap between policy ambitions and everyday life.
More than an exhibition
Samen Stroom Opwaarts marks the culmination of 2.5 years of research engagement at the Watersportbaan. At the same time, it sets the stage for what comes next: fostering dialogue around energy in ways that resonate with residents’ lived experiences. Through guided walks and a round-table discussion, the exhibition also functioned as a meeting space for exchange between residents, researchers and practitioners. While rooted in the Watersportbaan, the exhibition also aimed to speak to broader challenges faced by social housing estates elsewhere undergoing similiar transitions.
