Plans revealed for Scandinavian-style regeneration schemes

Henning Larsen has announced the company’s third major European win of 2018. Following the firm’s selection to complete an urban development project beside the Brussels Canal and a master plan for Belfast Waterside, the firm have confirmed an appointment to develop the Imperial Shipyard in Gdansk. The three schemes seek to build on the history of their sites, while opening up new public realms for residents and visitors.

After its foundation in 1844, The Imperial Shipyard was a key player in Gdansk’s economic rise as a shipbuilding centre, and later noted as an area taking an active role in the historic collapse of Communism and the rise of the Solidarity movement. The goal of the new 400,000 sq m development is to reclaim the shipyard as a powerful financial and social engine by building a mixed-use inner-city neighborhood. Jacob Kurek, Partner at Henning Larsen, explained: “It was important for us to pay tribute the unique history of The Imperial Shipyard still visible in the remaining historical buildings. Also having been at the heart of the workers’ movement, many families still feel a very personal connection to the site. Opening up the waterfront to be publicly accessed as well as creating a pedestrian and bicycle friendly connection to the city centre will help to give the Imperial Shipyard back to its people.” The site master plan is developed in collaboration with A2P2 Architecture and Planning and BBGK Architekci for Belgian developers Revive and Alides, the shipyard owners.

As the largest development in Belfast’s recent history, the 1.7m sq ft Waterside is also expected to revive a city district, in this case by inviting people to repopulate the area and connect it across the River Lagan. The new community of 750 homes will feature cultural venues, hotels, offices and retail facilities. Jacob Kurek said:  “We saw a truly special opportunity in this ambitious project to bring a Nordic understanding of outdoor living to Belfast. From Copenhagen, we know that harbours have an enormous potential to activate public life in a city.” The project is being developed by Swinford Sirocco Limited, privately owned by Vanguard Real Estate. Construction is set to begin in Summer 2018, with completion scheduled for Summer 2022.

The Key West project in the Brussels Canal Zone is another scheme aiming to bring Scandinavian socio-economic cohesion to a challenged area. As with many other European cities, Brussels has shifted away from heavy industry and is now in the process of redeveloping old industrial areas. The regeneration plan balances urban and recreational life, containing 46,000 sq m for housing, and 17,000 sq m for school, training, sports and production facilities alongside urban farming and public spaces. Jacob Kurek said: “We were inspired by the Government of Brussels’ ambitions to tap into the spirit of the old industrial area by introducing ‘second generation industries’ ─ local production facilities such as microbreweries, a cookie factory, and coffee roasting facilities.” Key West is developed for the client BPI by Henning Larsen in collaboration with Architects A2RC, and completion is expected by the end of 2022.

Lucy Nordberg

TenderStream Research Specialist & Editor

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