den Bell Antwerp, from grey courtyard to urban oasis

The city of Antwerp organized an ambitious design competition in 2021 to make the site of the city building ‘den Bell’ greener. Both the courtyard on top of the underground car park and the roofs are part of the design. OMGEVING won this competition with a green proposal and since then the office has been coordinating the design and the execution.

The design transforms the triangular central courtyard into a green urban oasis. As much as 31% of greenery will be added and hard surface on the underground car park will be depaved. It creates space for nature and biodiversity and increases the quality of life. In addition, new trees (7), shrubs (28), perennials (25.000), bulbous and tuber plants (80.000) and climbing plants (235) are added. A seven-meter-high pergola, overgrown with climbers, provides shade. Thanks to the tree slabs between the plants, you can experience the new nature in a playful way. Also, the tree trunk posts at different heights can be used for hopping, playing or sitting on.

The landscape works started on 10 January 2024 and will be completed before the end of 2024. This article shows the recent construction progress.

Despite the strong greening of the central square, the main walking lines are respected in the design. The minimal paving allows a smooth exchange between the entrances of the surrounding buildings. Through the planting beds, steppingstones also provide ‘wandering paths’ that allow real access to the greenery.

The existing basketball court and the soccer field will be merged into a fully-fledged multi-sports field and incorporated next to the entrance to the underground bicycle parking. This area, under the pergola, is also the paved event zone for the neighbourhood.

Also, the roofs of the buildings become greener. The highest roofs will have 2,767 m² of green roof with low-maintenance succulents, drought-loving herbs and grasses. 141 m² of natural roof supports biodiversity with as many native plants as possible. These green roofs provide cooling during the summer months and help collect rainwater. From within the building, you overlook the natural roofs.

To counteract flooding after heavy rainfall in the neighbourhood, rainwater is kept out of the sewers as much as possible. The rainwater is retained in planting areas and on the roofs. The rainwater is collected and then used to water plants on hot summer days, for example. There will be ‘water retention basins’ under most of the planting beds to collect rainwater.