MAXWAN

Park Groot Schijn . Antwerp

MAXWAN . photos: © Filip Dujardin

Is the first detailed design of the Ruggeveld masterplan. The planning area covers 6.5 hectares and is located south of the E313 highway.
The program includes park design (the blueprint for the "green seams") throughout the entire masterplan, landscape design (a qualitative improvement of de Koude Beek Valley), 172 community gardens and a reservation of about 30 additional gardens and a parking for about 50 cars.

So close to the town Antwerpen, the location shows an unprecedented landscape character, with the meandering Koude Beek as the iconic element. The existing landscape qualities be preserved and strengthened. To solve existing water-management, the terrain levels are subtly modified and 4 wadis are integrated in the landscape.
Existing neighbourhoods, new garden complexes, green seams and river valley are integrated into one. The garden complexes are robust and clearly recognisable clusters in the landscape. The path network gives access to the park from five different spots, connects all major locations and provides a continuous range perspective. The landscape appears as sometimes wet, sometimes dry, with matching flora and fauna. The vegetation in the green seams, with a nice grass mixture and a rich variety of flowers makes the promise of the master plan true. The entire design meets the pre-established goals for an integrated spatial organisation including solutions for the water management issues, including development of the existing nature and a strong desire to make the park attractive for a wide range of users. All the ingredients for an ecological, social, open, accessible and attractive park are there.

Credits:
program landscape, park, community gardens, parking
client AG Stadsplanning Antwerpen
country Belgium
city Antwerp
team leader Martijn Anhalt
partner in charge Rients Dijkstra
team Rene Heijne, Aleksandar Hrib, Harm te Velde
collaborators Antea Group, 1010 architecture urbanism (Bert Gellynck)