The suburb of Antwerp as (re)new(ed) living environment.
Contract research commissioned by the city of Antwerp
Research context.
The project was an explorative research by design concerning the possibilities for desification of the 20th century belt of Antwerp, exploring new typologies and ways to upgrade the excisting living environments.
- Can we combine existing qualities as openness and green with densification strategies?
- How can design research cope with this ostensible contradiction?
- The relation between public, private and collective has to become re-configured ?
Impact.
The methodology used within this research, (nexus design studio/EDUCATION - research unit/ACADEMIC RESEARCH - policy (FIELD)) offered important insights for the LABO XX-set up. LABO XX was commissioned in 2014-15 by the City of Antwerp and became a major think-tank for multidisciplinary design teams concerning densification strategies within the 20th century city belt of Antwerp.
The research outcome has become the theoretical framework for several design studio’s within the master program.
The research rapport was delivered to the urban policy makers.
The study was part of the basis of later research conducted by the 'stadsbouwmeester' (Labo XX)