Marchienne was once one of the most important spotlights for the progress in ironworks during the industrial revolution in Belgium. It is a city characterized by its industrial past, and the surroundings are still defined by the enormous industrial buildings. Buildings that are now abandoned or in decline and that make a huge contrast with the residential tissue of Marchienne au pont. The analysis of the place, indicates a strong split in the city. Indeed, it is divided in two by La Sambre, a river to which the city has turn its back.

The social magnet defined in this analysis is a point of interest giving rise to social encounters. We focus on the study of the magnets, the places that attracts people to gather. We study not only the present magnets but also past and future magnets.We take a step back and analyse through postcards what the magnets used to be in Marchienne. We use postcards for their way of highlighting places that were considered of interest. Present magnets are established by the current flows of the people in Marchienne. Places that are already gathering citizens and that have potential for the future. Future magnets are defined by the Bouwmeester plan. Not all magnets have the same background, but their purpose is to bring together and generate interaction and activities for the city’s inhabitants.