The international consortium LOLA, LIST and Antea have finished the definitive design for the redevelopment of a sports park in Genk, Belgium.
Last year, the consortium won the Open Call for this project, one of the strategic projects that the Genk develops to enhance the quality of life in the city.
The winning design in short is comprised of a long sports strip that creates a concentration of public spaces and connects the entire park with the upper forest and the lower Stiemerbeek valley in its surroundings.
The landscape design consists of three different spaces: a forest strip, an esplanade and a park connector:
a large amorphous paved space that connects the main functions of the sports park. All three are equally important and together they form an integral sequence of spaces with unique qualities. The 500 meter long forest strip improves the bicycle and pedestrian accessibility of the region while doubling as a running track. Along this strip a collection of open spaces in the forest find their place. These include a small skate park, a multifield for basketball and football, an open field for group classes like yoga and fitness, as well as play areas for children.
The esplanade, situated between the monumental swimming hall and the newly opened sports hall is an open plaza that acts as a balcony above the valley and gives space to organize events or gather and rest after exercise.
The first phase will be constructed in 2016. Phase two, including the park connector, restructuring of the main parking lot and ecological improvements to the Stiemerbeek will follow in the coming years. Interesting side note: the design for the sports park is part of a newly published book called Genk, Rasterstad, by BUUR and Public Space.
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