Gitte Harzé

In a landscape full of orchards, Borgloon ascends high above the sloping hills of Haspengouw. The city arose on the ‘Burchtheuvel’, thanks to a prospering fruit-economie. The programme of the project ‘city with perspective’ complements Borgloon. literally and figuratively. Living, culture, catering, wellness and parking accomodation fulfil the needs of the inhabitants of the city and the nearby villages. These activities give the city new perspectives. On the other hand, the new project is located at the edge of the citycentre, next to the church and on the hill.

This location offers a spectacular view of the orchards and nearby villages. It connects the marketplace to an important city road. Because of the large difference in height this link is missing. A mixture of functions garantees a constant movement and presence, typical for a keen city. The new project uses the difference in height to make a structure with three clearly separated levels. The volumes placed at this location, follow, split or overbuild these stairs. The dwellings embrace a semi-public place and are a gentle link between old and new.

The gently sloping roofs and walls from the other volumes refer to the opposite landscape. City and nature come together gradually. The second level functions as a new marketplace. The volumes are located in a right-angle to the stairs and combine city and nature. Thanks to the morphology and position of the volumes, great views are revealed along small passageways. All this contributes to an interesting experience- with a perspective..

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