Thomas Cuyt

Since the Flanders Spatial Structure Plan, cities have begun to expand and villages have been reduced to isolated islands, losing their authentic character. The boundaries between humans and nature have become sharp and abrupt; we can now only speak of fragmented landscapes in Flanders. In Genk, the once vast heathland of Opglabbekerzavel is in danger of disappearing due to a lack of action. This landscape is one of the last recognisable natural identities of Flanders. Urbanisation, mining and the construction of Zwartberg Airport have caused the heathland to shrink considerably, with the result that it has now lost almost all of its land. The repurposing of the former airport will give nature back the space it needs to rewild. The aircraft hangar will thus take on a new role as a connecting point between the garden district and the heathland. This place offers opportunities for encounters between people and nature and strengthens local identity with the aim of re-establishing a meaningful relationship between the two. This project is an exemplary proposal for an applied design strategy for repurposing transition zones into landscape connectors in the fragmented Flemish residential landscape, of which we are all a part. It is precisely these transition zones that I see as the biggest design challenge today and which offer enormous potential for future use. 

SCHUNCK cannot guarantee the correctness of content and expression. The participants themselves are responsible for their entries. The copyright of the projects underlies to the authors, any reproduction or use of the shown material is strictly forbidden.