Zulte - Administrative centre

Zulte is a warm and stylish municipality located along the Leie between Waregem and Deinze, with around 15,000 inhabitants. There is a critical need to rehouse the local government services due to serious shortcomings in the current accommodation and in order to provide better services for local citizens. The local authority wishes to seize this opportunity to refurbish the centre of Olsene with the aim of creating high-quality, atmospheric public areas.

The definitive choice of location will be made by the local council in the autumn. The two options are the project zone along Centrumstraat as from the N43, past the church as far as and including the present site of the town hall, and the campus of the primary school on the N43 (from which the school may move).

The candidates selected will, in addition to a design for a new administrative centre, also be asked for a plan for the overall redesign of the public space between the project zones along the N43 and past the church as far as the present site of the town hall. The public space in the centre of Olsene must after all also be reconsidered with an eye to traffic and residential functions in relation to the new use to be given to the 3 abovementioned project sites. The design that is actually chosen for the reorganisation of the N43/N459 crossroads and the public space around the church will however form part of a design brief to be put out to tender at a later date, although it will be very much influenced by the spatial development of the town hall. So the candidates are requested to develop their plan for the public space in relation to the core functions of the subdistrict of Olsene at the competition stage. The fundamental condition for the reorganisation of the public space and the relocation of the town hall on the project sites is the retention of the present number of parking spaces and the smooth handling of traffic at the N43/N459 crossroads.

Consequently, in addition to a design for a new administrative centre, the shortlisted candidates are also required to develop a vision for the total refurbishment of the project zone along Centrumstraat from the N43, past the church up to the site of the current local government offices. A basic condition for the reorganisation of the public area and the potential relocation of the local government offices within the project site is the preservation of the current number of parking spaces.

As regards the design, the local authorities are seeking a sober architecture which is nevertheless recognisable and modern, but in no way disturbing in relation to the surrounding area, and sufficiently well-integrated. The building must be easily accessible to the public, as well as being recognisable and client-oriented. The internal organisation must be transparent and structured according to the degree of public accessibility. As regards sustainability, this open house for all citizens must serve as an example, whereby its central location in the municipality represents a first important step. The proposed budget must be strictly adhered to.

global fee min 7% and max 9%