GERBEN VANDERYSE
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PUBLIC PARK, GHENT
Design made in team consisting of Baldr Borghlevens, Jari Lattré, Una Verborgstadt and myself.
The CPAS of Ghent asked us to design a park in New Ghent, a neighbourhood nearby the hospital of UZ Gent. The plot has undergone some changes. The old buildings that stood there, have been demolished and a new apartment block has already been placed. Our task was to design the 'backyard' of the new apartment.
What we first noticed, was the overall structure. There were already some good things present. We have retained and strengthened these matters in the design. Among other, the big monumental Sycamore has to be protected.
We wanted to create a big contrast between the open and enclosed. The places where there were trees excisting, we added more and we kept the grassfield open so kids could play and people can have a picnic, chat in the grass or lay down and look at the clouds.
We added a fire road so the firefighters can reach the building. We made it in reinforced lawn so that it is hardly visible. This acts like a border between the open grassfield and the extensive managed area by the Sycamore tree.
By applying extensive management to the large Sycamore tree, we can protect its roots from compacting soil. There are currently some street trees in very bad condition. We were very hesitant to remove them. In the end we decided to clear them and use them elsewhere. By placing the trunks near the Sycamore tree, they can serve as a fence around the tree, be used as a seating element and will slowly disappear and serve as nutrients for the monumental tree.
Since infiltration of water into the ground is a very hot topic and good against the possible water crisis in the future, we wanted to help. We started with the idea of an amphitheatre combined with a bioswale. By creating a large concave area that is almost not noticable and placing some benches around it, we wanted to provide a place where people can sit and talk but also make a (bon)fire. On rainy days, the concave area will fill itself with water that will slowly infiltrate the soil.
We also tackled the street surrounding the park. By making the street smaller with more curves, we want to slow down the cars. We provide parking space, but where the parking spots borders the park, we add some little hills to prevent from parking on the grassfield.
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video made by Baldr Borghlevens