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Mechelen Boulevard wins 2018 public space prize

The city of Mechelen, Belgium, has received the Prijs Publieke Ruimte (Public Space Award) for its renovated Boulevard. Designed by PosadMaxwan, the pedestrian and cycle zone runs for more than 1km and serves as a central axis linking the city’s main railway station with its market square. The jury deemed the Boulevard Belgium’s most attractive shopping street.

The prize has been awarded every year since 2008 by Infopunt Publieke Ruimte (the Public Space Information Point), run by the Voetgangersbeweging (Pedestrians’ Movement), an organisation that works to improve the quality of public space. With the prize, it aims to reward good commissioning and champion pleasant, safe, sustainable public areas built to a human scale. The jury praised Mechelen for setting an example for other cities with its comprehensive approach to public space.

PosadMaxwan worked on the project with the Antea Group in a consortium selected after a call for tenders by the Flemish government architect.