Moving away from the diffuse urban sprawl model so characteristic in Flanders, the development plan proposed by the firm OMA for the city of Ghent is based in large part on the transformation of the old port area. The changes this neighborhood are to undergo will take a number of years, but in the meantime it must assume and settle into its new central character, linking it with the historical city.

Our proposal involves the renewal and conversion of the wide industrial quays located where a number of canals intersect. In taking advantage of this positioning, the creation of three parks at the level of the water, below the traffic lanes, becomes a key component of the overall project. Placed opposite one another on either side of a large expanse, the parks together provide a major public space in the heart of the city, which serves in attracting pedestrians to the waterside area, a special environment conducive to relaxation and contemplation.