Peter van Impe | SCHUNCK

Structural plan

In Hasselt, the Albert canal which is indicated on the structural plan of Flanders as a linear economical vector for the regional activity between Antwerp and Liege, has much more potential as an urban development zone than as an industrial one. That is why this long, narrow area, situated between the town and the water, was further developed using the northerly and southerly roads leaving from the centre of the town. Each road got its specific design theme, like recreation, history, education and nature.

Macroscale: “Vice Versa”

In the segment between the recreative area and the historical area, a renewed typology was requested for the town expansion. Based on the existing road pattern, an introvert character was created at the inner side of the boulevard Herkenrodesingel by building upon the enclosed zones, giving a meaning to the open space. At the outer side of the boulevard, this typological town image was realized “Vice Versa”, having the open spaces give a meaning to the buildings and creating an extrovert character.

Medium scale: “Verdronken Eiland”(Drowned Island)

The isolated project area “Verdronken Eiland” between the Albertkanaal, the Genkersteenweg, the Herkenrodesingel and the canal basin, is divided in five separate spaces: the business park, the art square, the shopping centre, the event square and the youth centre. These town functions are mutually connected by a heightened inner area, free of traffic, with an underground parking and a yacht port along the canal. Additionally, three typologically valuable actual buildings were preserved, as a reference to the industrial past and as a marking point in the whole project.

Microscale: “Youthful”

The youth centre “Youthful” has four fundamental functions: a hostel, a youth house, a boathouse and a centre for modern podium arts. The youth house, located in four existing tanks, represents the central meeting point in the inner area. The centre for modern podium arts is the link between the youth centre and the event square.

Zwart-witte luchtfoto van een stedelijk gebied langs een rivier, met een driehoekig projectgebied dat in blauw is gemarkeerd. Een rode cirkel geeft een specifieke locatie binnen het plangebied aan en benadrukt de strategische ligging nabij een brug en waterverbinding.

Stedenbouwkundig conceptdiagram waarin een driehoekige ontwikkellocatie wordt verbonden met recreatieve, historische, educatieve en landschappelijke assen in de omliggende omgeving.

Vogelvluchtvisualisatie van een stedenbouwkundig ontwerp aan een waterweg, met gebouwen, pleinen, infrastructuur en kades georganiseerd rond een langgerekt terrein. Contrasterende kleuren markeren belangrijke bouwvolumes en publieke ruimtes, terwijl bruggen en wegen de verbindingen met de omgeving tonen.

Visualisatie van een verlicht gebouw aan het water met aanlegsteigers en een nabijgelegen brug.

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