© Tim Van de Velde

c.Tim Van de Velde

在经历了1913年两次世界展览的拆除行动和60年代从未建成的行政中心之后，根特的历史中心几十年来一直退化为一片荒凉的停车场，坐落在三座相邻的哥特式塔楼之间。在1996年至2005年连续两次比赛中，Robbrecht en Daem Architecture ten和MJoséVan Hee建筑师提出了自己的方案，以应对最初的竞争要求。

Following two demolition campaigns for a world exhibition in 1913 and an administrative centre never built in the 60s, Ghent’s historic heart degenerated for decades into a desolate parking lot in between a suite of three adjoining Gothic towers. In two consecutive competitions between 1996 and 2005, Robbrecht en Daem architecten and MJosé Van Hee architects proposed their own programme, countering the initial competition requirement.

 © Tim Van de Velde

c.Tim Van de Velde

他们不只是为活动提供一个开放的空间，而是通过精心布置一个市政厅来纠正这一缺陷，并恢复已无法辨认的旧城区的存在。这座建筑位于Poeljemarkt、Goudenleeuwplein和一个新的较低的“绿色”之间，连接大厅下面的“braserie”、“自行车公园”和公共厕所。虽然这座建筑在24，000平方米的场地上占据了一个明显的位置，但它很适合。与圣尼古拉斯教堂、贝尔弗里教堂和大教堂相比，它假定了较低的一组建筑物的高度，例如邻近的市政厅，从数学上来说，它的轮廓就是由此而来的。

Rather than just providing an open space for events, they sought, by meticulously positioning a market hall, to rectify this deficiency and reinstate the presence of old urban areas that had become unrecognisable. The building positions itself between Poeljemarkt, Goudenleeuwplein, and a new lower ‘green’ connecting to the ‘brasserie’, bicycle park and public toilets below the hall. And although the building clearly occupies a position on the 24,000m2 site, it fits in well. Compared to St. Nicholas Church, Belfry and Cathedral, it assumes the heights of a lower group of buildings such as the adjacent town hall, from which it derives, mathematically, its profile. 

 © Tim Van de Velde

c.Tim Van de Velde

作为一个城市内部，内部拥抱过路人与双调木天花板，其小窗口分散光向内。实际上，外部，整个建筑，似乎相对于历史上更高贵的石材建筑，通过使用一种木质的，几乎是简陋的装饰，而起到了一种尊重的作用。玻璃封套保护木材，提供柔和的光泽，与天空反射，整合。为吸收雨水而设的大型缓冲盆、低能耗的原则、使用真正的天然材料、公共交通的贡献以及对历史中心及其旧有空间结构赋予新价值的明确愿景，这些只是广泛体现未来“可持续性”的部分。根特中心将再次成为人们的社交场所。

As an urban interior, the inside embraces the passer-by with a dual modulated wooden ceiling, whose small windows scatter light inwards. The exterior, the entire building in fact, seems to assume a respectful role relative to the nobler historic stone buildings, by using a wooden, almost humble, finish. A glass envelope protects the wood and provides a soft shine, with the sky reflected, integrated. Large buffer basins to absorb rainwater, principles of low energy consumption for the brasserie, use of truly natural materials, the contribution of public transport and a clear vision about giving new value to the historic centre with its old spatial structures, are just parts that broadly flesh out ‘sustainability’ for the future. The centre of Ghent will again become a social spot for people.

Architects Marie-José Van Hee, Robbrecht & Daem

Location Ghent, Belgium

Category Public Architecture

Project Year 2012

Photographs Tim Van de Velde