Tienen’s market square, known as the Grote Markt, is a classic example of the historic markets found in small Belgian towns, but is in fact one of the largest in the country. Recently, however, it served primarily as a car park. The project area spans approximately 18,000 m², mostly paved, and features historic buildings, a church, a monument square and two smaller spaces. The aim was to create a multifunctional space that would encompass not only the car park, but also a market, a monument to local war victims, a concert space, and a park, among other uses. The project proposal involved resizing the square by dividing it into several smaller areas, each with its own identity, while actively involving users in the design process. Existing stone was reused, and a garden featuring native plants was created around the church, along with a green area that introduced over 100 trees to soften the edges of the open space. This strategy of breaking the original square into diverse areas has resulted in a new public space that retains enough capacity for large-scale events while diversifying its uses.
[Last update: 29/10/2024]