Antwerp: building upwards to retain open space

After WW2 suburbanisation accelerated in Belgium, especially in Flanders, not only around large cities like Antwerp but also around towns and even small villages. One of the solutions proposed by the city council was to offer up parcels of land to developers and/or social housing societies. Infilling by developing undeveloped or underdeveloped areas within the urban landscape was the way forward so it was thought. Often these urban infill projects consisted of high-rise and medium-rise apartment blocks.  After the fusion of Antwerp with the surrounding municipalities of Berchem, Berendrecht, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem and Wilrijk in 1983 this tactic was rolled out across the hitherto often semirural to suburban fringe, but met which such fierce opposition that the plans were scaled down to medium-rise neighbourhoods that are so very characteristic of Antwerp.

Some of the high-rise neighbourhoods built between 1950 and 1980 are well known as prime examples of the work of the architects involved or as exemplary for a certain style of architecture. Examples are Luchtbal, Wooneenheid Kiel, Kielpark, Vinkenvelden, Kleine Heide, Pulhof and Bosuil.

In the twenty-first century building residential towers is proving popular with both politicians and developers. The most important argument for building these high-rises is that they occupy little space and therefore leave more space for the public domain or green urban space. The Antwerpen Hogerop pressure group goes even further, proposing a new tunnel for the motorway and the creation of a green river around the old city with several nuclei of high-rise buildings especially located around stations. The city of Antwerp also produced a policy document with the outlines of their approach to new high-rise buildings. This HoogBouwNota links the quality of the urban skyline to conservation issues, efficient use of space, considered densification, retention of open urban space and the large scale application of sustainable building methods. In the policy document the city outlines areas where high-rise buildings are not permitted, where they could be permitted if qualitative and quantitative conditions are met and where these buildings would enhance the skyline and are best concentrated. A towering building is defined as at least 50 to 60 metres in height. The building height restriction of 123 meters (the height of the cathedral spires) is retained for the future.

The infill projects are located mainly outside the old borders of the city of Antwerp (*), with a clear emphasis on the southern part in Kiel, Hoboken and Berchem. These projects include:  Luchtbal (L), Wooneenheid Kiel (W), Kielpark (K), Vinkenvelden (V), Kleine Heide (H), Pulhof (P), Fruittuin (F), Arenawijk (A), Jos van Geellaan (J) and Bosuil (B). Areas where high-rises are best concentrated according to the city council are: Nieuw-Zuid (1), Berchem Station (2),  Nieuw-Zurenborg (3), Central Station South (4), Eilandje (5), Linkeroever (6) and Luchtbal (7).