{"id":50915,"date":"2026-05-06T14:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&p=50915"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:11:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:11:16","slug":"wonderwoud-wins-the-public-space-audience-award","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/wonderwoud-wins-the-public-space-audience-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Wonderwoud wins the Public Space Audience Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our design for Wonderwoud in Ghent<\/a> has won the Audience Award of the Public Space Award. A wonderful recognition for a project that focuses on climate adaptation<\/a>, biodiversity<\/a> and experience and for everyone who contributed to its realization.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Inspiring public space, embraced by the public<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Winning the public vote confirms our strength as designers of public space where climate adaptation<\/a>, biodiversity<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Wonderwoud Ghent: a new green hub on the city\u2019s edge<\/h2>\n

Wonderwoud is Ghent\u2019s fifth green hub and currently covers 35 hectares. The landscape combines spontaneous natural development with playful and adventurous places, set on the intriguing terrain of a former raised airfield. Just seven kilometres from the city centre, a unique setting unfolds with sand hills, young woodland, water features and winding paths.<\/p>\n

Sweco forms the design team together with Driekwart Groen and URA Architects. The project is being realised on behalf of the Agency for Nature and Forests, in collaboration with the City of Ghent and the Municipality of Lochristi. By 2035, the site will expand to approximately 200 hectares, making Wonderwoud one of the largest green hubs in Flanders.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A landscape that continues to evolve<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Wonderwoud<\/p>\n

Photos: \u00a9 Faye Pynaert<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Other News<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wonderwoud\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiveable cities, Nature & Environment<\/span>06\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Wonderwoud wins the Public Space Audience Award<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNature & Environment, Liveable Cities, Climate Adaptation<\/a> & Resilience, Water, Leefbare Steden<\/span>06\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Infiltration as a design tool for a robust living environment<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"stadsbeeld\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClimate Adaptation<\/a> & Resilience, Water, Expert Talk<\/span>05\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Europe\u2019s water under pressure: how to secure water systems<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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