Wonderwoud wins the Public Space Audience Award

Our design for Wonderwoud in Ghent has won the Audience Award of the Public Space Award. A wonderful recognition for a project that focuses on climate adaptation, biodiversity and experience and for everyone who contributed to its realization.

Inspiring public space, embraced by the public

Each year, the Public Space Award honours the most forward-looking and inspiring public space projects in Flanders and Brussels. From no fewer than 73 submissions, the jury selected six finalists. Notably, two of these projects are urban developments in which we played a significant role. For Wonderwoud, Sweco was responsible for the entire design process: from concept development and technical elaboration to execution. In addition, Moerman Park in Roeselare was also nominated, for which we handled the technical design. Both projects were in the running for the Audience Award, which ultimately went to Wonderwoud.

Winning the public vote confirms our strength as designers of public space where climate adaptation, biodiversity and experience are not buzzwords, but concrete design principles. Wonderwoud demonstrates how public space can evolve into a climate-resilient, inclusive and vibrant place where people, nature and the city reinforce one another.

A landscape that continues to evolve

The jury and the public praise Wonderwoud for the innovative way in which the design responds to topography, water, soil and spontaneous vegetation. Play, wonder and natural development take centre stage. As a result, Wonderwoud is not a traditional park, but an evolving landscape where visitors discover new places time and again.

Photos: © Faye Pynaert