Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning / Master of Human Settlements / European Master of Urbanism - FALL 2009
Kortrijk : Re_imagining the center
Bruno De Meulder - Bieke Cattoor - Catherine Vilquin
Creating co-existence along the Leie
The Leie riverscape in Kortrijk offers great opportuni-
ties for hosting new vibrant spaces and functions while
many of the vacant sites of the city are within the influ-
ence area of the river. The rearticulation of the (original)
river meanders with alternating soft and hard edges al-
lows simultaneously structuring and diversifying the riv-
erfront.
The main concern of the proposal is the creation of an
alternative model of urban landscape for its citizens,
especially focusing on attracting young families. Several
strategic shifts in the way of making the city have been
incorporated to tackle the challenges Kortrijk is facing:
- Firstly, the river is emphasized as the (new) backbone
of the city, rather than a merely infrastructural element
dropped in the backside;
Annelies de Nijs - Ben Dirickx - Kevin Penalva - Anna Sans
DOWN TO EARTH
- Secondly, new active and productive public spaces
are introduced, as opposed to the actual sterile public
space;
- Thirdly, a new rurban environment is proposed to con-
ceal the best features of the city and those of the natu-
ral environment, as a key point to attract residents;
- Fourthly, a time based planning is laid out by design-
ing with uncertainty and avoiding the rigidity of conven-
tional planning.
- Fifthly, we advocate for a stable housing market run
by cooperatives, and promoted by the municipality, to
avoid real estate speculation.
 ANALYSIS
HARD SOFT EDGES ALONG THE LEIE

>> kortrijk area

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HARD
HARD HARD SOFT
SOFT SOFT
Hard Soft

1.Front
1.Front 1.Front 1.Front
1.Front 1.Front

2.Movement;alongtheriver
2.Movement;alongtheriver
2.Movement;alongtheriver 2.Movement;towardstheriver
2.Movement;towardstheriver
2.Movement;towardstheriver

3.Impermeable3.Impermeable
3.Impermeable 3.Permeable/Porouse
3.Permeable/Porouse
3.Permeable/Porouse

4.Fixed
4.Fixed 4.Fixed 4.Evolving/Changeable
4.Evolving/Changeable
4.Evolving/Changeable

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 STRATEGIES
RE_IMAGINING THE CENTER

ACTIVITY CLUSTER

HOUSING COOPERATIVE MODEL

A model to access housing that has been op-

erating for more than 100 years in the Scan-
dinavian countries (Model Andel), Germany
(Wohnprojekte) and also in Latin America
(FUCVAM).

The housing cooperative is an instrument

to regulate the prices of the private housing
market and avoid real state speculation.

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URBAN TOOLS. Elements

EVOLVING URBANISM. Phasing

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 OVERVIEW
PLAN

6
7
 1. WATERSPORTS AREA

2. EDUCATIONAL AX

3. CULTURAL AREA

4. CULINARY EDUCATION

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5. KORTRIJK WEIDE TOWERS

6. BIO RESEARCH PARK

ORCHARDS

PROGRAM AREAS

4 2
3
6 1
5

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 PROJECT
SITE G. DE KIEN + EANDIS

BUDA PARK LEIE PUBLIC AREA MARKET AGRICULTURE SUNFLOW

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 Site Gronden de Kien + Eandis

Section site Gronden de Kien + Eandis

WERS AGRI. GREENHOUSES RING-PARK

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 PROJECT
SITE AMANDSCOLLEGE

Section site Burgemeester Vercruysselan

LEIE QUAY GARDEN PU

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 Site Sint-Amandscollege

UBLIC AREA MARKET COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE GARDEN PARKING COOP. HOUSING RING-PARK

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 PROJECT
SITE CENTRUMPARKING BROELTORENS
+ BROELKANT

LEIE BUDA BEACH HOUSING GARDEN ROW HOUSING PARK ROW HOUSING

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 Site Broelkant + Old Leie

Section Centrumparking Boreltorens

GARDEN AGRICULTURE MARKET PLATFORM OLD LEIE OLD LEIEBANK HOUSING GARDEN

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Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning / Master of Human Settlements / European Master of Urbanism - FALL 2009