ANTWERP | Design concept for renewed Wapper approved

The City of Antwerp council of aldermen approved the concept design for the reconstruction of the Wapper, the iconic elongated square in the center of the Meir.

The chosen design team set to work with the ambitions for the square and the feedback collected from a professional jury, the council, residents and local entrepreneurs. The present plan depicts the Wapper as a contemporary and climate-robust square, in which the archaeological-historical value is put in the spotlight.

During a participation moment in November last year, some 200 Antwerp residents gave feedback on the proposal of five design teams for the Wapper, after which the OMGEVING – De Urbanisten team was chosen.

Approved concept design

Over the past few months, they have been working on processing the feedback they received on their competition design. This resulted in the now approved concept design, which fully incorporates the city’s ambitions:

Wapper as a contemporary square

The design responds to two important spatial components that characterize the Wapper: the Wapper is both a destination and a connection. The Wapper is used intensively every day by, among others, shoppers, the catering industry, traders, cyclists and pedestrians.

The central area of the square offers space for the residential zones with terraces, public seating areas and cooling areas.

Staying in a pleasant environment is the focus here and is enhanced by the presence of greenery and water.

The outer sides are used as functional ‘flow zones’ for all the slow traffic that is necessary here. This clear zoning contributes to the legibility of the square: De Wapper thus becomes a pleasant place to stay and a safe, open and logical link between the shopping area and the theater district.

Wapper as a climate-robust square

Today, De Wapper is an urban and largely paved square with limited greenery. The concept design offers an answer to this by incorporating greening with trees and water, which contributes to the provision of cool areas and pleasant seating areas under the trees. In addition, the rui, an underground, invisible structure that runs under the Wapper, is used as an underground rainwater buffer.

For example, the concept design makes the ambitions from the Water Plan (2019) of the city of Antwerp concrete, by collecting and infiltrating water locally and then making it visible on the square.

By purifying the locally collected water on the square, the importance of the Wapper as a source of clean water is returned to this place in the historic city center. The central water element is the spatial support of the Wapper, and is divided into three different identities, each with its own function in the water system and its own experience for the visitor on the square throughout all seasons. There will also be water on the side of the Meir: a play fountain will be implemented.

The moult is made visible and perceptible on the Wapper by the centrally located water feature. Historically, the Wapper has always had a special relationship with water. In the 15th century there was a moult at this location that provided the city with drinking water. In the concept design, the water feature directly refers to the underlying, hidden historical canal network.

The Rubens House is also central to the Wapper. The connection between Rubens and the Wapper is an important part of the square design. An open space will be provided in front of the Rubens House where photos can be taken, as well as space for artistic expressions in the public space and for a good view of the facade of the Rubens House.

Alderman for Public Domain Erica Caluwaerts (Open Vld): “It is high time that one of our most important squares was redeveloped into a pleasant place to be. I am therefore pleased that the concept design was approved and took into account all the different ambitions. I look forward to the new participation moment for the Antwerp resident.”

Further timing

In September there will be a new consultation moment for the citizens of Antwerp and the stakeholders involved in the Wapper. The input from this will be incorporated into the preliminary design, which is expected this fall.

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