New urban environments in the twentieth century belt of antwerp
The Parish Girdle of Merksem as a strategic project
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This study formulates a strategic project for new urban environments in the context of Merksem, as part of the research of Labo XX centered around a qualitative urban densification strategy for the twentieth century belt of Antwerp. This project is situated within a re-evaluation - refinement - of
the strategisch Ruimtelijk Structuurplan of Antwerp for said study area by means of a research on three scales: macro, meso and micro.
the strategisch Ruimtelijk Structuurplan of Antwerp for said study area by means of a research on three scales: macro, meso and micro.
The study consists of three volumes, attuned to the three applied research scales.
MACRO
This section situates the research of Labo XX within the historical and societal evolution of the twentieth century. This century is after all the embodiment of an irreversible schism with the past, both in the areas of urbanism as well as societal beliefs. This volume provides an overview of the
urban planning methods in Antwerp as well as a general theory around the transformation of the term centrality. The current definition is after all much different than the nineteenth century equivalent. Today it can be categorized along concepts such as locality, the relationship between distance and proximity, a multiple choice context and micro-centralities as new urban environments.
urban planning methods in Antwerp as well as a general theory around the transformation of the term centrality. The current definition is after all much different than the nineteenth century equivalent. Today it can be categorized along concepts such as locality, the relationship between distance and proximity, a multiple choice context and micro-centralities as new urban environments.
MESO
The second part zooms in on the study area of Merksem and projects the influences from the
first section onto the historical growth of the district. It means an exploration of how the concept of centrality has developped in the tissue of Merksem since the eighteenth century. Completed, current and planned projects in this municipality will be visualized in order to create an intentional synthesis of Merksem 2050 and to define a strategy which takes into account this future urban tissue: the parish girdle as a strategy for new urban environments.
first section onto the historical growth of the district. It means an exploration of how the concept of centrality has developped in the tissue of Merksem since the eighteenth century. Completed, current and planned projects in this municipality will be visualized in order to create an intentional synthesis of Merksem 2050 and to define a strategy which takes into account this future urban tissue: the parish girdle as a strategy for new urban environments.
MICRO
The last volume examines how this strategic project can be developped by firstly framing the
present-day urban tissue of Merksem via a collection of analytical maps. Subsequently there will be a study on the possibilities of the ecclesiastical ensemble as a new urban ensemble within the modern day society. This includes the issue concerning the future of the Flemish parish church
as well. The five parish centres will be defined as study cases for new urban environments for which a development concept will be drawn out. This volume closes with a general conclusion.
present-day urban tissue of Merksem via a collection of analytical maps. Subsequently there will be a study on the possibilities of the ecclesiastical ensemble as a new urban ensemble within the modern day society. This includes the issue concerning the future of the Flemish parish church
as well. The five parish centres will be defined as study cases for new urban environments for which a development concept will be drawn out. This volume closes with a general conclusion.
The new urban environments in the twentieth century belt of Antwerp are products of a turbulent planning discourse and an historical societal change through which a pixelation of the centre
has created the condition of the current urban patchwork. In order to bring structure into this tissue, the s-RSA has formulated a village-and-metropole concept, which goes by an idealised polycentric view on the city and belt, more than a micro-centrist neighbourhood logic. A recalibration of this concept towards a more localised and pluralised notion of the term centrality opens up the possibility to create visibility and structure on a smaller scale.
The context of Merksem in the area of renewal projects is that of a circular blind spot amidst the residential tissue, which constitutes the territory of the five parish centres. The development of a strategic project for the future urban tissue of Merksem 2050 via this girdle means we can kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand we can localise the many supralocal (future) projects, on the other hand we can transform the parish centres as urban ensembles within a unified network.
has created the condition of the current urban patchwork. In order to bring structure into this tissue, the s-RSA has formulated a village-and-metropole concept, which goes by an idealised polycentric view on the city and belt, more than a micro-centrist neighbourhood logic. A recalibration of this concept towards a more localised and pluralised notion of the term centrality opens up the possibility to create visibility and structure on a smaller scale.
The context of Merksem in the area of renewal projects is that of a circular blind spot amidst the residential tissue, which constitutes the territory of the five parish centres. The development of a strategic project for the future urban tissue of Merksem 2050 via this girdle means we can kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand we can localise the many supralocal (future) projects, on the other hand we can transform the parish centres as urban ensembles within a unified network.
2016
