Cool Towns, Ostend – Belgium
Cool Towns, Ostend – Belgium
Ostend, a coastal city in Belgium, has a population of 71,000 people, living in a very restricted area of 37 km². Almost all of the city centre, which has a high population of senior citizens, is paved, which causes heat stress during the summer. This is mitigated to some extent by the breeze from the sea
The Lijnbaanstraat, a square adjacent to the main shopping street, is currently used for car parking. It is almost entirely enclosed by buildings, reducing air circulation and with heat stored in the brickwork. The south-facing wall on the northern side of the Lijnbaanstraat works like a “radiator” on summer days.
With heat stress now a reality, it was a prominent location for re-design as part of the Cool Towns EU Interreg programme. Fellow partner; Ostend De Stad Aan Zeeand, worked alongside Technum Architects and Engineers to design a fully anchored climbing plant system for the building facades and roof terraces and planters for immediate impact for residents.
However, it soon became apparent that more was needed, and plans were devised for on-the-ground gardens for additional shading that would support biodiversity and stormwater management.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Ostend, a coastal city in Belgium, has a population of 71,000 people, living in a very restricted area of 37 km². Almost all of the city centre, which has a high population of senior citizens, is paved, which causes heat stress during the summer. This is mitigated to some extent by the breeze from the sea
The Lijnbaanstraat, a square adjacent to the main shopping street, is currently used for car parking. It is almost entirely enclosed by buildings, reducing air circulation and with heat stored in the brickwork. The south-facing wall on the northern side of the Lijnbaanstraat works like a “radiator” on summer days.
With heat stress now a reality, it was a prominent location for re-design as part of the Cool Towns EU Interreg programme. Fellow partner; Ostend De Stad Aan Zeeand, worked alongside Technum Architects and Engineers to design a fully anchored climbing plant system for the building facades and roof terraces and planters for immediate impact for residents.
However, it soon became apparent that more was needed, and plans were devised for on-the-ground gardens for additional shading that would support biodiversity and stormwater management.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
“A lot tidier, it used to be a grim parking lot in the city centre. Now it can grow to be a resting place near the city shopping street and attract new businesses.”
The municipality organised a public consultation as there were concerns, specifically about the loss of car parking, incredibly close to shopping areas. With an agreement to proceed, construction work commenced for five raised green island planters. Designed with a variety of trees, shrubs, and plants providing optimum combination, the additional green infrastructure provides multiple benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, reduced pollution, increased property values, social cohesion, and improved health and well-being.
As lead partner, GreenBlue Urban was thrilled to support with design advice and supply products to support the planting of the urban trees which included beautifully flowering Magnolias and Anna Paulowna, supplying urban tree planting products; RootSpace 600, with its aeration lid to enable healthy aerated uncompacted soil, and unique interlocking structural side panel. Load-bearing Geonet and RootRain Arborvent 150s were also supplied.
“A lot tidier, it used to be a grim parking lot in the city centre. Now it can grow to be a resting place near the city shopping street and attract new businesses.”
The municipality organised a public consultation as there were concerns, specifically about the loss of car parking, incredibly close to shopping areas. With an agreement to proceed, construction work commenced for five raised green island planters. Designed with a variety of trees, shrubs, and plants providing optimum combination, the additional green infrastructure provides multiple benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, reduced pollution, increased property values, social cohesion, and improved health and well-being.
As lead partner, GreenBlue Urban was thrilled to support with design advice and supply products to support the planting of the urban trees which included beautifully flowering Magnolias and Anna Paulowna, supplying urban tree planting products; RootSpace 600, with its aeration lid to enable healthy aerated uncompacted soil, and unique interlocking structural side panel. Load-bearing Geonet and RootRain Arborvent 150s were also supplied.
The success of the project has been phenomenal with a PET reduction of 4.51oC, measured when the pilot was partly installed, the number of daily users benefiting from the interventions has increased, and feedback from residents and tourists includes;
Nobody stayed here. Now we see people sitting on benches. You’re never alone in this place.” “Beautiful magnolias” “veeeery well done, thank you for all the hard work”
The redevelopment of Lijnbaanstraat has been another Cool Towns successful project that GreenBlue has been proud to support. By reducing paved areas, planting trees and introducing climbing plants and water elements mitigations can be made to avoid heat stress in the summer.
Discover more on Cool Towns
The success of the project has been phenomenal with a PET reduction of 4.51oC, measured when the pilot was partly installed, the number of daily users benefiting from the interventions has increased, and feedback from residents and tourists includes;
Nobody stayed here. Now we see people sitting on benches. You’re never alone in this place.” “Beautiful magnolias” “veeeery well done, thank you for all the hard work”
The redevelopment of Lijnbaanstraat has been another Cool Towns successful project that GreenBlue has been proud to support. By reducing paved areas, planting trees and introducing climbing plants and water elements mitigations can be made to avoid heat stress in the summer.
Discover more on Cool Towns
