Galerie Haven dock Ghent

Abstract

he thesis is a study of the wider relationships of a selected part of the brownfield site at the Noord Dock in Ghent and an urban study of a selected part of the area.

The scoping study deals with an area that has lost its original significance. The brownfield site is directly connected to the promenade and the dock area. The more detailed urban study focuses on a selected area adjacent to the famous XDGA studio extension and the main N424 road to the neighbouring Netherlands. The dock has become a barrier between the historic core of the city and further development in the more industrial Oude dokken area. The area is now in a poor state of repair and is eroding the character of the urban fabric. The city is currently optimising the character of the area and is considering the future development of the vacant land.

The aim is to design an urban concept that preserves the character of the dense urban development. This includes defining the thematic content and taking into account all spatial, material and plot relationships in the area. The work continues with the basic structuring of the building volumes, the structuring of the public space and the design of the promenade with the quay.

In the design process, I proceeded from familiarising myself with the spatial plan of Ghent for the area in question, to analysing the current state and development of the area within the historical lines. The result was a vision for the development of the area and its possible uses. The visions are translated into concrete proposals for massing, functions and public structure.