Alexander Dumarey

Residential tower on the Portus site in Ghent

Conversion of the former Belgacom Tower into a mixed-use residential development with 105 flats.
Architecture| Advice sustainable & circular building

  • Architect: Coussée Goris Huyghe architecten with Bureau Bouwtechniek

  • Client: LIFE

  • Status: Design phase

  • Advisors: Bureau Bouwtechniek (nature-inclusive advice)

IMG 7401 kopie

Former Belgacom Tower

The existing concrete tower, dating from the 1970s, will be retained and repurposed as a residential building. A new lightweight steel structure will be fitted around the existing volume like a second skin, providing space for terraces and greenery. Behind the tower, three lower-rise residential buildings of between three and six storeys will be constructed.

At ground level, too, the site will undergo radical changes. The new plan provides for 20 per cent less building volume and 25 per cent more green space. A 3,000 m² public city garden will connect to a large courtyard garden for residents and users. The ground floor will house public facilities such as catering, wellness and office space, opening up the former telecoms site to the surrounding city.

IMG 7539

Preservation and reuse

In addition to the tower’s load-bearing structure, the existing foundations of the rear building – which has already been demolished – will also be reused. Technical systems will be integrated underground, whilst roofs and façades will be maximised to accommodate greenery. In this way, the existing site is transformed with less new construction and a stronger connection to its urban surroundings.

As the executive architect, we assist the design architects with all technical and financial issues, so that they can focus entirely on the design. We also oversee the implementation and ensure that the objectives and the plan remain crystal clear to all partners, so that together we can realise our dreams.

Nature-inclusive advice

Bureau Bouwtechniek assesses the ecological potential of the site and its surroundings, identifies relevant target species and investigates where biodiversity measures can be integrated into the building envelope and outdoor landscaping. In doing so, we seek interventions that create ecological added value whilst also fitting logically with the design and construction.

A specific area of focus for Portus is the existing pigeon problem. We are investigating how this can be addressed in a natural and sustainable way, including by assessing whether the introduction of a suitable species of bird of prey, such as the peregrine falcon, could play a role here.

In a second phase, we translate the selected measures into material choices and construction details, integrated and verified within the plans, and we supervise the construction phase. Advice on the site management approach and protective or mitigating measures, as well as a follow-up visit to the site, are also part of the brief. In this way, we help the client to actually realise their nature-inclusive ambitions.

Our ambition is that the building should be barely visible on Google Maps, as all technical installations are concealed in the basement and the roofs are fully utilised as a continuous green space for flora and fauna. As the icing on the cake, plants and trees have also been incorporated into the design of the façades, ensuring that the greenery at ground level connects seamlessly with that on the roofs.
Toon Haverals from LIFE

Our interdisciplinary team

From Team Architecture (private sector East and West Flanders) (5)

Choice Thomas 569 A1690 Gemiddeld

ir. arch. Thomas Janssens

Project architect
E-mail |
CHOICE 569 A1581

arch. Mieke Van der Linden

Project architect
E-mail |
Tatjana 569 A1614 Gemiddeld

ir. arch. Tatjana Bogaert

Project architect
E-mail |
JEROEN 9 6 23 569 A8695 Gemiddeld

ir. arch. Jeroen Verliefde

Project architect
E-mail |
ILZE 9 6 23 569 A8885 Gemiddeld

arch. ilze De Backer

Project architect
E-mail |

From Team Sustainability, Energy & Comfort (1)

Jente

ir. Jente De Schepper

Sustainability consultant
E-mail |

From Team Computer Aided Design & BIM (4)

Julie H

ing. Julie Huybrighs

BIM architect
BIM coordinator
E-mail |
Andreas 569 A1636 Gemiddeld

arch. Andreas Porreye

BIM-architect
BIM-manager
BIM-coordinator
E-mail |
Bart choice 719976

arch. Bart Van den Bossche

BIM architect
E-mail |
Frederik 3410

arch. Frederik Velghe

BIM architect
E-mail |
TAGS: Executive architect| Nature-inclusive building

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