How can we ensure a healthy breathing space for everyone in a rapidly growing city?
Northern Station Area
De Zwarte Hond was commissioned by the city of Roeselare in Belgium to develop a masterplan for its northern station area (Noordelijke Stationsomgeving Roeselare, NSO). The plan, centred around an urban park which serves as a breathing space for the whole city, offers a glimpse into the future. It provides the city with a framework to guide development in the right direction, ensuring cohesion within an area characterized by complex ownership structures. The redevelopment of the northern station area transforms a long-hidden industrial site into a large urban park, providing Roeselare with a new breathing space. A continuous green belt is being created along the railway line to encourage residents, visitors and passers-by to walk, exercise, play and socialise. The park adds a vital missing link to the city by connecting the eastern and western sides of the centre, and provides the Krottegem quarter with a high-quality, healthy outdoor space. New residential neighbourhoods surrounding the park offer opportunities for diverse living environments amidst the greenery. Compact, car-free streets and communal courtyards create a peaceful and sociable living environment. Having the front doors of the homes and amenities face the park enhances the area’s overall vibrancy and social safety. The TRAX venue forms the cultural heart of the area, offering a place for events, urban sports and creativity. To the north, De Prairie marks the city’s new entrance and serves as a flagship project, combining care, housing and green spaces. The NSO is a future-oriented city expansion project that brings together climate-adaptive landscaping, biodiversity and urban development. It’s a park for everyone – and a unique opportunity to make Roeselare a greener, healthier and more cohesive place.
data
- Location
- Roeselare, BE
- Size
- 20 ha
- Client
- Roeselare Stad
- Discipline
- Urban Design
- Program
- Master Planning
- Period
- 2022-2023
- Status
- Completed
- Partners
- DELVA Landscape Architecture & Urbanism, Rebel
Roeselare
Northern Station Area
From hidden space to a connecting urban landscape
The NSO is currently a hidden space on the eastern side of Roeselare’s city centre. Although it is a short distance from the station, it is cut off by infrastructure. This elongated area lacks cohesion and is difficult to access, despite its potential to connect the city, the station and the surrounding neighbourhoods. In a city where public green spaces are scarce and the challenges surrounding climate adaptation, health and social interaction are growing, this area offers a significant opportunity. The TRAX building already serves as a creative meeting place, demonstrating the energy that can be generated here. The project’s core objective is to develop a cohesive, green and vibrant urban landscape that connects, invites and grows alongside the city.
TRAX-gebouw als creatieve ontmoetingsplek
The TRAX building as a creative hub
Hidden gem
The area was surrounded by major infrastructure, including a high-speed cycle path running straight through it, a railway line acting as a physical barrier, and two access roads for motor traffic. These structures had a significant influence on the area’s spatial dynamics, preventing it from forming a fully integrated part of the urban fabric.
The masterplan area contained a variety of uses. The TRAX building is a key creative catalyst, but its potential needed to be utilised more effectively. Other uses were still linked to the area’s industrial railway heritage. While some of these are no longer appropriate for the area’s future, others could be repurposed to preserve this character.
There was insufficient space for cycling, walking, playing and socialising. Transport routes did not connect optimally with the existing urban fabric, particularly in an east-west direction. Furthermore, the built environment lacked a clear spatial structure.
The Master Plan
The masterplan outlines a new, green area of the city that serves as a beacon on the horizon. The TRAX building forms the heart of the TRAX Park, a large city park that is developing into a major connecting space that will benefit the whole of Roeselare. A diverse range of public spaces for sport, play and socialising are created around this park, while the existing TRAX building is explicitly celebrated and enhanced. An elongated railway park now connects the northern area with the station, offering plenty of space for cycling, walking, playing and relaxing. Green extensions and low-traffic routes reinforce this structure, anchoring the area in an east-west direction within the existing urban fabric and significantly improving accessibility.
Three flexible development areas offering a high quality of life will enable the city to adapt to changing needs over time. They strengthen the structure of the public spaces and integrate existing buildings. An informal environment for wandering emerges between the building blocks, creating a finely meshed, accessible and vibrant part of the city.
Traxpark as the city’s green heart
Spoorpark connects the north with the station
Green routes make the area accessible
Flexible residential areas within a permeable urban fabric
Inspiration and implementation
The northernmost block serves as a model for the entire area. The generously proportioned blocks provide space for a variety of uses and a network of communal courtyards.
