Market Hall and Central Squares, Ghent, Belgium

Following two demolition campaigns for a world exhibition in 1913 and an administrative centre never built in the 60s, Ghent’s historic heart degenerated for decades into a desolate parking lot in between a suite of three adjoining Gothic towers. In two consecutive competitions between 1996 and 2005, Robbrecht en Daem architecten and Marie-José Van Hee architecten proposed their own programme, countering the initial competition requirement. Rather than just providing an open space for events, they sought, by meticulously positioning a market hall, to rectify this deficiency and reinstate the presence of old urban areas that had become unrecognisable.

The building positions itself between Poeljemarkt, Goudenleeuwplein, and a new lower ‘green’ connecting to the ‘brasserie’, bicycle park and public toilets below the hall. And although the building clearly occupies a position on the 24,000m2 site, it fits in well. Compared to St. Nicholas Church, Belfry and Cathedral, it assumes the heights of a lower group of buildings such as the adjacent town hall, from which it derives, mathematically, its profile.

As an urban interior, the inside embraces the passer-by with a dual modulated wooden ceiling, whose small windows scatter light inwards. The exterior, the entire building in fact, seems to assume a respectful role relative to the nobler historic stone buildings, by using a wooden, almost humble, finish. A glass envelope protects the wood and provides a soft shine, with the sky reflected, integrated. Large buffer basins to absorb rainwater, principles of low energy consumption for the brasserie, use of truly natural materials, the contribution of public transport and a clear vision about giving new value to the historic centre with its old spatial structures, are just parts that broadly flesh out ‘sustainability’ for the future. The centre of Ghent will again become a social spot for people.
Client
City of Ghent, VVM De Lijn, TMVW
Architects
Robbrecht en Daem architecten, Marie-José Van Hee architecten
Program
market hall, public squares and streets, park, bar/restaurant, bicycle parking, public toilets and tram stops
Location
Ghent, Belgium
Date
1996–2012
Status
Completed
Floor Area
30.000 m2 (public squares and streets) + 1.900 m2 (park) + 1.400 m2 (lower level with bar/restaurant, bicycle parking and public toilets) + 625 m2 (market hall)
Team
Paul Robbrecht, Hilde Daem, Johannes Robbrecht, Marie-José Van Hee, Bert Callens, Wim Menten, Jan Baes, Tom Broes, Katrien Cammers, Axel Clissen, Mattias Deboutte, Petra Decouttere, Arne Deruyter, Linde Everaerd, Trice Hofkens, Gert Jansseune, Daniël Libens, Carmen Osten, Filip Reumers, Sofie Reynaert, Miriam Rohde, Marilù Sicoli, Gert Swolfs, Pieter Vanderhoydonck, Kathy Vermeeren, Caroline Voet, Wim Walschap
Art Intervention
Michaël Borremans, Ayşe Erkmen, Ann Veronica Janssens
Structural Engineering
BAS (Dirk Jaspaert)
Services Engineering
Studiebureau Boydens
Landscape
Wirtz International
Infrastructural Engineering
Technum-Tractebel Engineering
Contractor
THV Kobra 2 (Besix – Stadsbader)
Nominations / Awards
2014 – Shortlisted Wallpaper* Judges’ Award: Best new Public Building, 2013 – Belgian Prize for Architecture, 2013 – Winner ‘Prijs Bouwmeester’, 2013 – Finalist European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, 2012 – Nomination European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, 2009 – Public Space Award
Consultant
Ingenieursbureau France