Herentals - City Reception Hall

The city of Herentals is fully committed to strengthening its city centre with the construction of a new city reception hall on the site of the current reception hall ‘t Hof and the construction of a green, above-ground city-centre car park with a capacity of approximately 170 cars. A new park area will be developed on the south side of the site. With this integrated urban development, Herentals is investing in a multifunctional and future-oriented public infrastructure. A construction budget of €7,600,000, excl. VAT and fees, has been allocated for the realization of the project.

The city of Herentals is on the eve of a major redevelopment of the Schaliken inner area, the link between the city park and the Grote Markt. What used to be a fragmented private parking and green area has gradually been transformed since 2010 into a high-quality and future-oriented urban district. The city has pursued a strategic acquisition policy with a view to completely upgrading the area. In 2016 the first phase of development took place with the redevelopment of the city park and the construction of a temporary car park.

In preparation for this assignment, a clear programme of requirements was drawn up through a participatory process involving citizens, associations and advisory boards. A recently approved urban development study specified these requirements in function of the site and set out the spatial preconditions. Due to a change in budgetary circumstances, the project has been adjusted, while retaining the spatial ambitions of the urban development study. Herentals is sticking to its long-term vision for a sustainable city centre, with more space for social interaction, greenery and safe mobility.

The city reception hall will be a multifunctional and flexible building, consisting of three complementary parts:

• an event hall with standing capacity for approx. 1,000 people
• a multipurpose hall with seating capacity for approx. 250 people
• space for a youth centre with standing capacity for approx. 300 people 

A lively base facing the park and the Grote Markt connects the building in a natural manner with the public space. The city reception hall must become a recognizable and representative attraction in this key location, while also being a model of sustainable architecture and responsible use of space in a prime location in Herentals.

Based on mobility studies and parking-related calculations, Herentals has made a well-considered decision in favour of an above-ground car park with a capacity of approximately 170 parking spaces, an expansion of the existing parking capacity by approximately 95 spaces. This choice fits within a broader sustainable mobility strategy for the city centre and anticipates the planned redevelopment of Augustijnenlaan and Belgiëlaan into a green-blue urban boulevard. Parking spaces along this axis and on the Grote Markt will be gradually phased out in the coming years and bundled into three strategic city-centre car parks. This will free up space elsewhere for depaving and greening. 

Safe and clear routes for cyclists and pedestrians through the centre and on the site are essential. As much as possible, motorized traffic will be kept out of the Grote Markt side, with clear access via Belgiëlaan. Easy access to both the above-ground car park and the existing underground car park is essential. Logistical flows from the city reception hall and surrounding businesses via the car park require thoughtful and careful integration. 

The entire layout of the surroundings will be a model of climate-proof public space and will respond to the climate challenges facing the city centre. A pleasant green environment with maximum depaving, the planting of new trees, sufficient tree cover and above-ground water collection are starting points for the design. 

In the southern part, a new park area will strengthen the relation between the cultural centre and Zandstraat, on the one hand, and the new city reception hall and Grote Markt, on the other. This will be an attraction for young and old and its layout will complement the existing city park. Pleasant seating areas, child-friendly spaces and good lighting will contribute to this. On the Grote Markt side, the development should set the tone for a new, greener future for the car-free city square. Maximum depaving and greening are also key starting points for the design here.

With this Open Call, the city of Herentals is looking for an ambitious, multidisciplinary design team to take on this integrated study assignment and accompany it through to final delivery, within a clear and tight schedule. Herentals invites designers to help build a leverage project for sustainable urban development in the heart of the city.