proosdijstraat, kortrijk, belgium
A few years ago, the activity in these grounds in front of Proosdijstraat disappeared; just a row of trees recalls the scattered set of buildings and open spaces that were there. Their position in the Overleie neighbourhood, however, endows them with strategic value for the renovation of its north-eastern end.
Its environment is mainly residential, characterized by single-family row houses and three nuclei of old workers’ dwellings: one in a linear fashion, another one around a central open space and a third discontinuous one. Through one passage, they have direct access to St.-Amandsplein, the heart of the neighbourhood, and, through another, to Brugsestraat, the internal perimeter boulevard of Kortrijk. They are, moreover, in front of the grounds of the Guldensporenscollege, which close Overleie on its east side, and can connect through the sides of Saint Eloy Church with Overleiestraat, an axis linking the neighbourhood with the centre of Kortrijk.
PROPOSAL
ORIGINAL
OLD WORKERS DWELLINGS
The proposed building and free space organization places the single-family homes with a patio inside the block and orients a small nucleus of apartments towards Proosdijstraat. The largest pieces are reserved for tertiary uses and organize the façade of the inner streets that allow the block to be crossed both north-south and east-west.
This network of itineraries is articulated by means of two large public spaces that occupy strategic positions: one at the point where the itineraries meet and the other in front of Proosdijstraat, around the existing trees.
The objective, both of the layout of the built elements and of the articulation of the public spaces, is to activate the interior of the block and make it participate in the life of the neighbourhood, ensuring that accessibility to the various buildings is done by sustainable means.