Project update of 'Kwartier 51'
Project update of the transformation of the long-closed military enclave on the edge of Sijsele into the open and future-oriented district 'Kwartier 51' on our website! Happy to see this project evolving.
The vision builds on the site’s existing qualities and its layered context. Historic landscape structures, the orthogonal layout of the former barracks, the elongated sightlines, and the sober, functional use of materials form the foundation of the design. The strength and identity of the place do not lie in individual objects, but in the ensemble value of the whole. This coherence is not only respected, but actively employed as the framework for the new district.
As a result, the former Sergeant Baron Gillès de Pélichykazerne remains clearly legible. The existing structure is not treated as a constraint, but as a spatial framework within which new programs can take root. Heritage is not preserved for its own sake, but mobilized as a driver for development. The central axis is retained as a green backbone, linking the district to the village center and the Ryckevelde forest.
The location—between village core and landscape—defines the character of the plan. Public space, nature, and program are interwoven into a coherent whole, where a park with water features, newly planted woodland, play and sports areas, and a fine-grained network of walking and cycling paths form the connection between neighborhood, village, and forest.
