The City of Ghent aims to develop a vision for the future of the neighborhood around the Watersportbaan. Together with all stakeholders, we explored together with Els Vervloesem and Lattitude how the district can grow in a cohesive manner.

The neighborhood by the Watersportbaan, developed in the 1950s and roughly situated between the R40 and the R4, consists of many "islands": sports infrastructure, schools, the hospital, social housing towers, and so forth. It represents a unique urban context, a modernist experiment according to the post-war ideal of constructivism: a harmonious combination of recreational sports landscape with social housing and urban amenities. However, today, the Watersportbaan is particularly exemplary of the shortcomings of the historical urban planning model. To provide a future for the Watersportbaan, there must once again be room for experimentation, this time more human-centered and bottom-up. The neighborhood is set for significant renewal, including the new community health center, the new community house, the replacement of social housing towers, and the renovation of the Offerlaan campus. The future vision must integrate everything into a coherent plan around amenities, mobility, and public space.

Location: Ghent, BE | Program: Concept Study | Year: 2023-2024 | Client: City of Ghent, Vlaams Stedenbeleid | Status: finished | Collaboration: Fallow + Els Vervloesem + Lattidute + HoGent + VUB + Rebel | People: Carmen Van Maercke