NIKKI SCHOTTE

Designing a new masterplan for the Urbiscomplex Ghent Zuid at Woodrow Wilsonplein. 

The project lies within the urban fabric of Ghent next to the riverbank where the new library will be located.

 

URBAN ENSEMBLE

The new masterplan makes a physical and visual connection to the existing public transport by elongating the existing square. The new configuration of the masterplan would give Zuid a completly different character, opening up to give back to the neighbourhood by integrating an urban and a more natural inner square, contoured by various building blocks. Within the design there is a direct transition from the inner square to the new library 'De Waalse Krook' and the riverbank. But the four 'Hall Houses' create a playful rhythmic of alleys leading towards the existing urban fabric of the surrounding neighbourhood. The alleys allow the visitors to catch glimpses from both sides, inviting them to discover both atmospheres. 

 

 

ARCHITECTONIC FRAGMENT 

In old English a 'hall' was used for a large enclosed room with an open heart atmosphere, where the whole community came together to eat, meet, sleap and celebrate. In the project 'hall' is seen as a polite threshold inbetween the hastiness of the city and the serenity of private life. A place to enhance social interactions, hold meetings and celebrate festivities. On the ground floor there are commercial facilities accomodated wheras from the enclosed square you are led by a double flight of stone steps that take you up to the entrance of the 'hall', that is located at a delightful elevation on the first floor. Above this there are two floors where residential facilities are accomodated and on top there is a community house for the residents of the Hall houses.