A green public space is being created on the site of the former abattoir in Antwerp, designed to encourage people to exercise, play and socialise. The local flora and fauna are being enhanced by ensuring the green space connects with the natural environment surrounding the area. Residents of Antwerp are involved in the design process through a participatory scheme.
The population of the Slachthuiswijk neighbourhood is set to grow in the coming years. Following the closure of the municipal abattoirs, the City of Antwerp is redeveloping the area into a new, low-traffic urban neighbourhood offering around 2,000 homes. With the creation of nearly four hectares of green public space, residents will be able to experience ‘real nature’ in their neighbourhood on a daily basis. The neighbourhood’s green spaces will be connected as much as possible to surrounding green areas, thereby turning the neighbourhood into a habitat for birds, butterflies and bees. The abundance of greenery also creates a pleasant living environment by reducing heat stress, wind and noise. Furthermore, all this greenery contributes to a beautiful living environment.
History
In 1811, a new harbour was dug to the north of Antwerp. The floodplain was raised using the excavated earth, and the neighbourhood was built on that embankment. From the mid-19th century onwards, fifty small slaughterhouses from the city centre merged to form the modern and hygienic municipal abattoir. The abattoir closed in 2006. Following the closure of the municipal abattoir, AP University of Applied Sciences moved into part of the halls and converted them into a campus with high-tech laboratories.
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Designed together with the neighbourhood
To involve the various current and future residents, an extensive participatory process focusing on public space took place from August 2020 to the end of 2022, featuring online surveys, activities for children and their parents, neighbourhood walks with the design team, focus group discussions with young people, the local hospitality sector and residents in the neighbourhood who are harder to reach, a workshop and a dialogue market. Around 600 residents took part a total of 731 times, including 208 children.
Water management
Alongside all the green spaces, water is a key element of the new design. The water study sets out what is needed to sustainably collect, reuse and allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil in and around the neighbourhood. The water playground on Kalverstraat and the water garden on Moeke Bitterpeeënstraat are of great importance in this regard.
Vetten Osplein
Vetten Osplein is the neighbourhood’s living room. This intimate square is framed by trees and provides space for local events and markets. There is a play fountain in the square.
Cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating surround the square, overlooking the events area, the play fountain and the basketball hoop.
The square offers plenty of seating for young and old alike. The wooden benches are incorporated into a green buffer that keeps the road at a distance.
The pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood will feature a dense network of footpaths and cycle paths – the Dam Route – which connects all the play areas, sports facilities and recreational spaces. From the square, the Dam Route runs through Kalverwei neighbourhood park.
Kalverwei
The Kalverwei is the neighbourhood’s green park. The hill on Slachthuislaan dampens the noise from traffic.
A number of landscaped play and sports areas are concentrated in the central part of the park. The play equipment in the Kalverwei was designed in consultation with children from the neighbourhood.
Thanks to the concentration of play and sports areas in the central part of the park, there is ample space available for recreation and socialising.
The paths that form part of the Dam route are characterised by a leaf motif that references the trees in the vicinity. Sports and play features have also been integrated into the path, such as a hopscotch court, a balancing line and a running track.
Karaktervolle deelruimtes
De kracht van de Slachthuiswijk is de diversiteit aan karaktervolle deelruimtes. In de eerste fase zijn de Lange Lobroekstraat, het Vetten Osplein en de Kalverstraat gerealiseerd. Hierna worden het Pieter Densplein en de Moeke Bitterpeeënstraat verder uitgewerkt.
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Pieter Densplein
This square is also car-free and offers a varied open space, combining paved and green areas, for people of all ages to relax, play and take part in sports. The central area consists of a series of small tree-lined squares separated by grassy meadows dotted with trees.
Moeke Bitterpeeënstraat
Moeke Bitterpeeënstraat is a tranquil water garden and an oasis of calm in the neighbourhood. The garden is filled with special (water)plants, through which walking paths wind their way. This water garden serves as a play area for young children, with seating areas for parents and study spaces for students at the nearby university.
Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite
