Den Bel Antwerp by OMGEVING

The city of Antwerp organised an ambitious design competition in 2021 to make the site of the city building ‘Den Bell’ greener. Both the courtyard on top of the underground car park and the roofs are part of the design.

The design transformed the triangular central courtyard into a green urban oasis. As much as 31% of greenery is added and hard surface on the underground car park depaved. It created space for nature and biodiversity and increases the quality of life. In addition, new trees (7), shrubs (28), perennials (25.000), bulbous and tuber plants (80.000) and climbing plants (235) are added. A seven-meter-high pergola, overgrown with climbers, provides shade. Thanks to the tree slabs between the plants, you can experience the new nature in a playful way. Also, the tree trunk posts at different heights can be used for hopping, playing or sitting on.

Despite the strong greening of the central square, the main walking lines are respected in the design. The minimal paving allows a smooth exchange between the entrances of the surrounding administrative buildings. Through the planting beds, steppingstones also provide ‘wandering paths’ that allow real access to the greenery.

The existing basketball court and the soccer field will be merged into a fully-fledged multi-sports field and incorporated next to the entrance to the underground bicycle parking. This area, under the pergola, is also the paved event zone for the neighbourhood.

Also, the roofs of the buildings became greener. The highest roofs has 2,767 m² of green roof with low-maintenance succulents, drought-loving herbs and grasses. 141 m² of natural roof supports biodiversity with as many native plants as possible. These green roofs provide cooling during the summer months and help collect rainwater. From within the building, you overlook the natural roofs.

To counteract flooding after heavy rainfall in the neighbourhood, rainwater is kept out of the sewers as much as possible. The rainwater is retained in planting areas and on the roofs. The rainwater is collected and then used to water plants on hot summer days, for example. There are ‘water retention basins’ under the square to collect rainwater.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
OMGEVING as landscape architect in cooperation with B-GT, Bollinger + Grohmann, Pakt, Yellow window

• Other credits:
Pictures: Lucid

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