Erik Dhont Landscape Architects

This 1.3 acre park, once an area of blight in a low-income neighbourhood of Schaarbeek, was abandoned for years and deemed too steep for development. In order to revitalize the area, the commune conducted a competition for the design of a new park on the derelict site. Our firm was selected to lead the design, along with architect Philippe Serck. The linear site will include an orangerie, terraced retaining walls that give the park a more abstract shape, a water wall proposed for the existing wall to soften its domineering height, and areas along the edge for vegetation that attract butterflies and birds. Although the site has a difference in elevation of approximately 20 meters (65 feet), the park is fully accessible to all. Newly planted trees provide a translucent view through the park, along with a dense and colourful understory of shrubs such as hazelnut, lilacs, and rhododendrons. A gate appropriate in size for a chateau was installed to signify and accentuate a sense of welcoming into the park when it's open from sunrise to sunset. / in collaboration with ARBR Architecten SCES Engineering