Previous state
At the end of the nineteenth century, the Gedempte Zuiderdokken docks were a key area of activity in the port of Antwerp but, when the port’s operations were moved downriver in the 1960s, the docks were asphalted over and the zone became a vast vacant lot which, in the following decades, was mainly used as a carpark. While the surrounding neighbourhood was coming to life with new residents, museums, and cafés, the old docks area remained as a tar-covered wasteland. The asphalt absorbed heat in summer and did not drain water. The sewers failed to function whenever there was heavy rain. With no shade or places to plant greenery, the area was an inhospitable place that looked more like abandoned infrastructure than a space for people to use and enjoy.
Aim of the intervention
The project was designed with a view to reclaiming this enormous expanse and transforming it into an open green park that would be able to face the challenges of climate change. The space, organised in keeping with the layout of the three former docks, was then given different uses and atmospheres. The priorities were clear: to remove the asphalt, plant a large amount of vegetation, and instal a system that would be able to collect, filter, and reuse rainwater from the entire neighbourhood. Moreover, local residents participated in the project in its aim of finding a balance between playing and sports areas, quiet gardens, and spaces for cultural events
Description
The park is structured into three open-air sections that follow the lines of the three former docks. In the centre, there is a large open meadow for playing or resting on the grass and a linear water garden that offers close contact with the water as well as its visual presence. Tucked away on either side are quieter sections for reading, resting, or working in urban allotments, and also play areas and sports zones. Three new squares connect the park with the surrounding streets, cafés, and museums. On both sides of the park, a large stand of trees provides shade and a space for leisurely walking, and granite blocks recovered from the old docks have been reused to keep alive the site’s history as a busy port.
Assessment
The Zuidpark has completely transformed life in the neighbourhood and has shown how a space that was once just a carpark can be changed to become the heart of a community. The people immediately made it theirs, coming to read under the trees, to enjoy the water, play sports, and meet in the squares. Removing the asphalt and reintroducing water and greenery has not only made the neighbourhood better able to resist rain and heat but it has also given local residents a quality public space where they can enjoy spending time.
[Last update: 09/09/2026]
