DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDIO win competition for Poort van de Prijkels

International team led by DELVA wins tender Team DELVA – KAAN – DENKC-STUDIO, wins the tender Poort van de Prijkels. This led by Alheembouw-Steenoven and commissioned by the intermunicipal association Veneco.

The team is joining forces to make the ‘Gate of the Prijkels’ a new reference in how office buildings and nature can be developed hand in hand. Setting an example for the new way of working.

Image © DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDIO

Sustainability, ecology, social welfare, architecture and landscape value: the combination makes the ‘Poort van de Prijkels’ an exemplary project. It answers more than one problem. We want to switch up the preconceived notion of the typical ugly, concrete industrial site.

We strive to create a real destination, an inspiring place for people and animals that focuses on well-being; a place that you are drawn to because it has its own identity.

Image © DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDIO

Ecology is the decisive factor in this, that is why we are creating a space here that fully respects and integrates the natural environment. Out of respect for the soil, we avoid any unnecessary compaction and we make a closed cut and fill balance.

In this way we try to ensure that people, nature and animals live together coherently and sustainably. The project thus shines in its integrated approach to all current building challenges of our time. Responsibility is thus taken to carry out the construction tasks in a balanced and sustainable way.

Image © DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDIO

Mental health first
Inclusion and the mental well-being of the future users are given the highest priority. A beautiful forest landscape will soon meander between the buildings and be admired from the terraces.

“We are moving away from the gray highway infrastructure and traditional concrete here,” says Steven Delva. “In this story, we bring landscape and buildings together in such a way that they almost merge, so that you really enter a new world.”

Image © DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDI

A park to get lost in, literally and figuratively
A sea of forest green; this will become the cradle of a business park that harmonizes sustainability, ecology and conscious entrepreneurship. “We create a world that inspires; that ensures nature and people meet, and at the same time forms an entrance to the timber towers. Landscape, trees, wooden facade, together they will form the green gate of the Prijkels.”

Every day greeted by art
Between all that natural beauty, there will soon also be room for landscape art. A remarkable landscape installation, called De karreweg, by Dutch artist Paul de Kort will greet everyone who steps through the gate. The work will be photographed daily for a year with the aim of creating a timelapse that will form a digital gateway. Source by DELVA, KAAN AND DENKC-STUDIO.

Image © DELVA, KAAN and DENKC-STUDIO

Location: Karrewegstraat, Deinze, Belgium

Lead Architect: KAAN Architecten

Local Architect: DENC-STUDIO

Landscape Architect: DELVA Landscape Architects

Landscape Artist: Paul de Kort

Sustainability advisor: DENC-STUDIO

Structural, MEP, building physics and fire safety engineer: BM Engineering

Mobility advisor: Suunta

Developer: Steenoven

Contractor: Alheembouw

Client: Veneco