Why shouldn’t we simply take advantage of the informal use of the existing and establish urbanism as a discipline of creative uncovering?

A strategic master plan was to be developed for the central and at the same time predominantly industrial area in Aalst as a vision for the future, which would activate the site and transform it from suburban to vibrant urban space.

Looking at the site, we find a lot of potential – the presence of structuring natural elements, large open spaces that allow an appropriation, the presence of water and natural ecosystems, the Dender running across the city, linking it with the landscape. Remains of agricultural gardens, close to the urbanised areas. A scale of proximity, that could serve as a model. Small streets that call for a soft mobility. A main arteria, that could be transformed into a boulevard. Unused plots in the fabric, that could improve connections. The silos as landmarks, giving the city a characteristic skyline. The carneval halls as a sleeping beauty. The industrial heritage, that could be an anchoring point. A patchwork of different ambiances, intertwining each other. A new image, another world, behind almost every corner. It‘s already there. What if we take advantage of the existing?

We could create a new balance between built and open spaces and use the Dender to link the different green spaces.

We could connect the local and translocal networks and reinforce the existing by addition of new elements.

diversity and new communities

INTENSITY

Developing the area from suburbia to a vital urban space by inserting islands with magnets (carnival museum, educational center, textil, innovation & designcenter, parkbad & sauna, activated heritage, motel, watertower, seniors residence) and new meetingpoints with microservices.

MOBILITY

Our goal was to improve the mobility with the help of the new boulevard, with vertical, rooftop and underground parking with multiple use: parking or playing. Intensifying the local network, overcoming barriers,offering green corridors and connecting the islands was also very important for us.

PUBLIC SPACE

Main goals: connecting the existing parks with the landscape, creating the new Gleispark, activating Molenbeek, extending the alley, integrating the islands throug local green corridors and and blending everything together with local streets and public squares with microservices – divers, exciting and accessible!

the carnival museum

ANOTHER ISLAND:

education center

ANOTHER ISLAND:

textiles, Innovation & Design Center

microservices and islands

take your time! enjoy your site!

take your time! enjoy your site! introducing public values to encourage various developments Connect, filter, structurate!

Strip & Boulevard

possible phasing

A vision for Aalst 2035

A vision for Aalst 2035.

Location: Aalst, Belgien Project format: Geladener Städtebaulicher Wettbewerb Project status: abgeschlossen Size: 15.000 m² BGF: > 20.000 m² Planning period: 2009 Project duration: 2 Months Customer: Stadt Wien MA21 Partners: Jens Metz- Plattform Berlin, Erik Meinharter- Plansinn- Wien Employees: Pia Spiesberger

Urban Design Wettbewerb

Rediscovering Aalst

Why shouldn’t we simply take advantage of the informal use of the existing and establish urbanism as a discipline of creative uncovering?