Gent - the Counts’ Castle

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019, Architectenbureau Sabine Okkerse bvba, Dhooge & Meganck - Ingenieur Architecten, murmuur architecten , Seghers Landschapsarchitecten
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88888, aNNo architecten, architecten Els Claessens en Tania Vandenbussche, Atelier Arne Deruyter, Exponanza
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Baukuh, RE-ST
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ONO architectuur
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Schenk Hattori AA, Wim Goes Architectuur BVBA
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Project in the framework of the Immovable Heritage Order, read the remark below
The Counts’ Castle is a unique monument and is one of the oldest buildings in Ghent. The origins of this fortress go back to the 9thcentury and it is an important point of historical reference and represents the city’s rich mediaeval history. Nowadays it lies at the heart of the city centre and its battlements, watch-towers, donjon and gatehouse make it a powerful landmark. The Counts’ Castle is at present thus one of Ghent’s most important cultural tourism attractions, with more than 300,000 visitors per year.
Although the Counts’ Castle has a lot to offer in its own right, there is an urgent need for an upgrading of the full visitor experience. Ghent city council would like, in future, to focus on a meaningful and high-quality experience of the monument with several circuits and stories custom-made for each type of visitor group, so that the castle functions not only as an actual, historical or authentic location, but also as a mythical and imaginary place.
In this regard, the city council is aiming for full accessibility to and upgrading of numerous exceptional places inside the castle: the inner garden has a potential as a ‘hidden’ urban green space and as part of the experiential circuit; the roof of the donjon is underused as a public space and has potential as a large-scale balcony with a view over the city. Even the present, cramped 2005 ticket office needs replacing and the possibility of incorporating a spacious and comfortable visitor reception area, toilets and possible additional amenities has to be examined. The heritage value of the fortress must of course be respected and enhanced and the dialogue between old and new will play a crucial part.
By means of a successful reassessment of its historical elements, the upgrading of its most outstanding components and the revision of its circuits, Ghent city council wants to make this monument the subject of a unique visitor experience, of an authentic specimen of the heritage in this 21stcentury.
It is for this reason that the city council is looking for a design team that can give shape to its aims in the areas of architecture, restoration, landscape design, exhibition design and media technology, and which can raise the experience of the monument to a higher level by means of the synergy between all these aspects. In this regard, the architecture and the exhibition design function as a framework for its fitting out as an innovative contemporary museum (audio and visual installations, lighting, virtual or augmented reality devices, etc.). The city council is thus looking for a multidisciplinary team to fulfil these expectations.
The following aspects are not part of the assignment:
- Storytelling (narrative lines) and the development and implementation of accompanying textual, audio and visual material.
- Drawing up the management plan.
- Studies and site monitoring regarding stability.
- Safety coordination.
- EPB reporting.
- Carrying out preliminary research essential to underpin the study assignment (soil study, technical study of materials, etc.).
Allocation Criteria
- The quality of the concept and vision and of the research by design, checked against the aims and expectations of the principal as formulated in the specifications, and this:
a. in a broad social framework
b. more functionally applied to the users’ practical requirements
c. in relation to the heritage/monument - the process-orientation, process-readiness and the plan for the site monitoring.
- The estimate and cost control for the project, stating what services are to be provided for the proposed fee.
- The phasing of the project and the deadline for completion.
- Sustainability
- the composition of the design team
- the estimate of the cost of the project and the fee
The respective weighting of the criteria is as follows: 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 1.
A Project under the Immovable Heritage Act
For the restoration work on the monument, the city council wants to apply for heritage grants, higher than 50%, in accordance with the procedures of the Flemish authorities. To do this, it has to comply with the Flemish Government Order of 12 July 2013 concerning the Immovable Heritage Act. For this project, the designer will therefore be appointed in accordance with a modified Open Call procedure.
In concrete terms, what this means is that candidates will have to demonstrate in their portfolio their expertise for this exceptional heritage project on the basis of, at the very least, the elements stated in Article 11.5.2. of the Immovable Heritage Act of 16 May 2014 that deals with quality:
1° when designers and contractors are engaged, account must be taken of the following points, as a minimum:
a) the relevant studies and professional qualifications
b) the overall expertise regarding the specific project assignment
c) a statement of the least part of the assignment that the designer or contractor will carry out under their own management
2° the design assignment, comprising the drawing up of management plans, the prior research studies, and the management measures, works or services on protected property and heritage landscapes is awarded on the basis of, at least, the allocation criteria above (see Allocation Criteria)
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Project details
Project code
OO3603
Official name
Study assignment for new visitor infrastructure, for architectural changes and the design of the grounds to increase the quality of the tourist experience, and for the restoration of a number of rooms in the Counts’ Castle in Ghent.
This project is part of the project bundle OO36.
Status
Being built
Client
Stadsbestuur Gent
Site location
Sint-Veerleplein 11
9000 Gent
Belgium
Timing project
- Selection meeting:
- First briefing:
- Second briefing:
- Deadline offers:
- Jury:
Contactperson client
Doreen Gaublomme
Contact Team Vlaams Bouwmeester
Anne Malliet
Award procedure
Design contest followed by a negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice
Financial
Construction budget
Including VAT
Including commission
Commission
Fee for offers
Project type
Function
European publication
- Date European publication:
- Number European publication: 2018/S 151-347676
Publication bulletin
- Date publication bulletin:
- Number publication bulletin: 2018-522536
This project was realized via Open Oproep. Read more about this tool.
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