Market Square Gavere: Climate-Adapted Oasis for People and Nature
The Market square of Gavere has been transformed from a large parking area into a vibrant, biodiverse square. This multifunctional space now brims with opportunities for meetings, recreation, and events.
Sweco designed a space for the municipality of Gavere that is lively and experiential. This redevelopment project won the overall Public Prize and a bronze medal in the Urban Development, Infrastructure & Mobility category at the Publica Awards 2023.
- Client
- Gemeente Gavere
- Location
- Gavere
- Services
- water management, energy efficiency, parking policy, participation and co-creation, stakeholder management
Successful Redevelopment Through Participation
The plan for the Market is the result of an innovative and participatory process. Residents, traders, and other stakeholders worked together with the designers to develop a vision for a greener, more sustainable, and livelier central square.
Kristof Van Impe, Specialist Landscape & Public Space at Sweco: “The plan combines creativity and boldness with attention to water management, energy efficiency, and parking policy. The Market has now been redesigned into a place where everyone feels at home: a space that is fully shared.’”
Climate-Resilient with Thoughtful Water Management
Part of the square has been made car-free to create a climate-resilient space. This area features an integrated water feature, which is continuously fed with fresh spring water from the lower-lying protected fountain. This ensures that the fountain always provides cooling, even during prolonged dry periods. This water feature not only contributes to cooling but also serves as a meeting and play area, enhancing social life.
The Market now has about 1,400 m² of green zones, with a total capacity of 310 m³ for rainwater buffering. These zones ensure that trees and plants receive fresh water. Our designers maximized the use of source measures and de-paving. This results in a successful interaction between the market function and rainwater management, focusing on both urban functionality and sustainability.
Green Zones Promote Biodiversity and Sponge Function
The green zones consist of a combination of climate-resilient perennials, ornamental grasses, flowering bulbs, multi-stemmed shrubs, and solitary trees that provide shade. This diversity creates an attractive and lively landscape that offers high visual quality in every season. Furthermore, the green zones contribute to biodiversity, as there is always enough bloom and nectar available for butterflies, bees, and other insects from January to late autumn.
In addition to their aesthetic value, the green zones also function as a natural sponge for the market. They capture almost all the rainwater that falls on the Market and allow it to slowly infiltrate into the soil. An underground buffer, consisting of tree granulate, has been established based on detailed calculations (SIRIO). The porosity of the tree granulate allows for effective water buffering, while the airy structure of this substrate provides optimal growth opportunities for the trees.
The front roof halves of the homes are also connected to the underground tree site improvement via infiltration pits. This maximizes the use of source measures and connects the Market with the green-blue narrative.
Shared Multifunctional Space is Inviting
The Market of Gavere has been transformed into a green, inviting meeting place. The old paving has been replaced with a comfortable square floor made of granite. The levels have been adjusted, allowing for more space for pedestrians and cyclists. The fountain has been given a more prominent location, and the front garden of the town hall meets the Market.
There are also benches and rest areas provided for people with reduced mobility. The revamped Market fits into the ‘Zorgzame Buurten’ initiative, aimed at strengthening social cohesion in Gavere. The new greenery also contributes to more oxygen and less water nuisance. In short, the Market is an example of a sustainable, accessible, and safe design.
