In the southern part of Ghent, at the head of the Upper Scheldt valley, is Eiland Zwijnaarde, sandwiched between the Ring canal, the Scheldt canal of Zwijnaarde and an old Scheldt tidal arm. The E40, situated on a dyke body, divides the island into two parts. The southern part will be developed as a science park for university spin-off companies, focusing on sustainable research and development, while the northern part is intended for water-related industrial activities.

For Eiland Zwijnaarde Noord, GAFPA developed an overall vision in cooperation with the Stadsbouwmeester and the Ghent Chamber of Quality, anchored in a spatial image quality plan. This plan strives for unity, flexibility and circularity, despite the diversity of the industrial players. The project focuses on integral sustainability, access to water activities via the quay, large-scale solar energy production, water reuse, circular use of materials and ecology.

The masterplan is being concretised for the area between the E40 and the R4, with an approach road on the east side and a landing quay on the west side. The Heylen Warehouses plot comprises a large ‘black box’ for storage and transport, with an iconic double deck along the R4 executed as a monumental vierendeel resting on a concrete column gallery. The Verhelst site provides a centre for the sale, storage and handling of building materials, a showroom and a future building innovation centre. Here, the characteristic cantilever rack dominates with an elongated canopy of solar panels as a cornice across the entire perimeter.

The 87.000m2 site is divided into parallel strips for loading, unloading and storage, based on a 6x6m grid, creating space for dialogue and synergy between the exploitations. The different strips, with their own building systems, contribute to a common identity, supported by a limited material palette and distinctive architectural elements.

On the north side, an elongated choreography of trucks on a double deck resonates with the passage on the road, water and bridge. The south side reflects the same mutability with an ever-changing storage of building materials.