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With this 52nd edition of the Open Call, we present six ambitious projects in which the power of good public commissioning becomes tangible. Vision and execution go hand in hand here: concrete realizations become the driving force for turning social ambitions into reality. I am delighted that, together with us, these clients are willing to invest in high-quality, future-oriented architecture and in an open procedure to appoint the most suitable design team.

The assignments are diverse, but all share a clear commitment to repurposing: instead of razing and replacing, they work with the spatial, social and material value of what already exists. In Ghent, an integrated design is being sought for the renewal and centralization of the Ghent Police Zone premises, a design that re-examines the buildings and their surroundings as a single entity. In Hamont-Achel and Lennik, the Ursuline Convent and the historic Vetkot site will be given a new lease of life as accessible leisure venues centred on social interaction and personal development. Repurposing is here a means to link heritage with contemporary needs.

Housing is also a key component of this edition. At Zypteland in Kortrijk, Mierennest in Belsele and Ter Doenaert in Marke, the renewal of social housing estates is essential. By taking existing neighbourhoods and buildings along with their qualities as a starting point, these projects connect renovation and conversion to densification, quality of life and social cohesion. Repurposing is here not merely a structural choice, but a means of sustainably embedding affordable, high-quality housing in well-located, vibrant neighbourhoods.

These six projects thus address the three priority areas set out in my ambition note Public Project. The residential projects combine affordable, high-quality housing with a careful approach to the existing environment. The housing assignment  is approached comprehensively, with a focus on accessibility and social cohesion. A strong emphasis is placed throughout on caring for a democratic and inclusive public space. In the residential areas, public and green spaces support community life. The Ursuline and Vetkot sites are to develop into open ‘third places’ for a diverse range of users. Even at the secure police site in Ghent, the design of a high-quality reception area and the relationship with the city are essential components of the assignment. Public and communal space is not an afterthought here, but a starting point for the creation of a liveable and connected environment.

Lastly, what I called ‘responsible design’ forms the common thread running through all these projects. Responsible design underlies the importance of the repurposing that connects these six projects. In each case, the clients asked themselves the fundamental question set out in Public Project: is a new build necessary, or can reuse and transformation offer a full-fledged and ambitious alternative? By treating existing heritage, space, materials and resources with care, unnecessary demolition and additional land take can be avoided. At the same time, repurposing offers an opportunity to realize new programmes, collective facilities, inclusive public spaces and affordable housing. The six projects demonstrate in concrete terms how ecological, spatial and social concerns can come together, and how public clients can take responsibility for what already exists as well as for what future generations will need.

I invite all designers to submit their entries and show how vision can become reality.

See you soon!

Véronique Claessens, Flemish Government Architect