The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp approved the second and final phase of the preliminary design of the Spoorpark in the Zurenborg neighbourhood of Antwerp and Borgerhout. 

The City is developing this park on and parallel to the elevated railway, it extends over the zone between the Draakplaats (Antwerp district) and the Luitenant Naeyaertplein (Borgerhout). 

The second phase of the preliminary design includes the square along the Plantin en Moretuslei at the former Antwerp-East Railway Station, and the part of the Fonteinstraat between the parking lot of the Plantin Moretus swimming pool and the Luitenant Naeyaertplein. 

The preliminary design of the remaining part of the Spoorpark was approved in May 2022. If everything goes according to plan, the final design of the entire Spoorpark will be completed in the spring of 2024.

Former railway

The future Spoorpark will be located partly on the ground floor and partly at height, including on the railway bridge over the Plantin en Moretuslei, and will connect high and low in various places. 

The Spoorpark has the ambition to connect the two neighborhoods in a green way, while preserving authentic railway objects such as the train tracks. The park also wants to create a walking and cycling path at neighborhood level and highlight the special views of the city. Currently, most of the project area is still in use by Infrabel for rail activities and is therefore not accessible.

Alderman for Urban Development Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “The Spoorpark will be an excellent example of the ‘greening’ that we have been pursuing with spatial planning throughout this legislature. After all, this area is largely used for rail activities and is therefore not yet a public space. We are also creating a beautifully greenened square at the former East station and a creatively designed slope at Fonteinstraat as access to the Spoorpark. This unique park will be located both at ground level and at height.”

“In the Spoorpark we are creating a completely new bicycle connection between Zurenborg and Borgerhout, comfortable and safe. Cyclists will be able to cross the Plantin and Moretuslei without conflict,” Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis (N-VA) says.

Antwerp-East

This zone was reworked, taking into account comments from the neighborhood after the first preliminary design phase. The square will be paved and greened as much as possible. Nine parking spaces are grouped in a well-arranged parking lot. The future tree present on the square is centrally located in the green zone, surrounded by plants and a wadi into which rainwater can infiltrate.

The design takes into account the future repurposing and possible expansion of the station building. The temporary staircase construction from the first preliminary design phase was not retained after constructive consultation with the neighborhood. 

A new stair construction was investigated, but would limit the future development possibilities of the station building. 

That is why there will now be no new access to the Spoorpark on this side of the Plantin en Moretuslei. In a future redevelopment, additional access to the Spoorpark can be integrated.

A slope will be constructed near the Plantin Moretus swimming pool that provides access to the park. The design of the slope was adjusted. Part of it will be floating to protect the root zones of existing trees as much as possible. The lower part of the slope is made by also raising the Fonteinstraat next to the swimming pool. 

This way, more trees at the Luitenant Naeyaertplein can be preserved. The height differences between the railway embankment and ground level are better absorbed and the entrance to the swimming pool can be redesigned without barriers. The dozen parking spaces on the side of the swimming pool will disappear. There will be open views between the railway embankment and the ground level and between the Plantin en Moretuslei and the entrance to the swimming pool.

On the side of the Luitenant Naeyaertplein, a lush green passage announces the Spoorpark. This will be a safe and pleasant walking and cycling connection, which will also include play and seating elements.

Temporary use of the Draakplaats tram shed

The city is developing a tailor-made follow-up process for the repurposing of the buildings in and around the Spoorpark, including for the tram shed at the Draakplaats. Antwerp’s real estate agency AG Vespa will launch a call for temporary use of that warehouse at the end of this year.

Participation

Much attention was paid to neighborhood participation in the design process. For example, four online surveys took place, and several walks around the site with the design team were organized, as well as focus conversations. 

he team took the results of all consultation moments into account to further refine and develop the design, which was done, among other things, with the temporary stair construction at East station and the trees on the railway embankment.

There will be another information session on 11 December 2023, during which this second phase of the preliminary design will be explained. The local residents of the future Spoorpark will receive an invitation in the mail.

Timing

If everything goes according to plan, the final design for the public space of the Spoorpark is expected in the spring of 2024. In principle, the works can start a year and a half later. The eventual start of the works depends on the ongoing negotiations with rail infrastructure manager Infrabel.

More infoirmation 

AG Vespa, the autonomous municipal company for real estate and urban projects in Antwerp, coordinates the Spoorpark, with Infrabel and the Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer) as important partners. The design team is Stramien architecture & space cv in collaboration with REST. The project is made possible by the Flemish Urban Renewal Fund.

More information about the Spoorpark can be found at www.agvespa.be. Click here for the direct link.

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