Oostende - Parc Royal master plan

The city authorities of Ostend are looking for a designer to draw up a master plan for Parc Royal, an iconic site by the sea that brings together heritage, climate adaptation, mobility and inclusion. The process comprises two phases: the preparation of a master plan and development strategy for Parc Royal and the all-inclusive study assignment for the public space of a first sub-project, Thermae Palace. The city of Ostend has allocated €289,256 excl. VAT for the master plan, participation and communication, and €1,239,669 excl. VAT and fees for the study assignment. 

Ostend, the city by the sea, is the beating heart of the Belgian coast. With 72,500 inhabitants and an urban agglomeration of 150,000 inhabitants, it welcomes more than 450,000 overnight tourists every year. With its dynamism, rich maritime history and distinct cultural tradition, Ostend combines ruggedness with refinement.

The study area for this assignment appeals to the imagination: it is an area where Belgium literally opens up to the North Sea. Here, iconic buildings – the Royal Galleries, the Thermae Palace, the Royal Villa, the Wellington Hippodrome and the modernist Royal Palace apartment block – are surrounded by a Belle Époque district and the Westerkwartier, a lively working-class neighbourhood. Besides heritage, it is home to contemporary facilities such as the library, the Kaap arts centre and the Klief rehabilitation centre. It is a place where past and future, land and sea meet. It is also a place of contrasts, confusion and controversy. How can we continue to appreciate the visionary urban talents of Leopold II without ignoring the dark, inhuman legacy of the colonial period?

After the demolition of the swimming pool complex on Koninginnelaan in 2023, a 1.3 hectare site became available. This was the starting point for an ambitious project: the construction of a new park, embedded in a broader vision for the entire area. The site is both strategic and vulnerable: centrally located in the city, right by the sea, but under pressure from climate change. The master plan must therefore focus strongly on a water-robust, drought- and heat-resistant city, while at the same time telling a story that weaves together heritage, mobility, culture and social inclusion. 

Through the redevelopment of this site, the city explicitly wants to initiate a dialogue about colonialism and social justice, linked to the legacy of Leopold II. Historical landmarks such as the Thermae Palace and the Venetian Galleries remain crucial, but the design must also accommodate powerful new narratives. 

Parc Royal must therefore become an inclusive meeting place: a green lung for Ostend with shelters in the event of heat stress, spaces for care and mental health, play and reflection. The location offers opportunities for a pilot project on sustainable energy and a model for multimodal mobility, with a new focus on pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. Recreation, soft mobility and an open, accessible public space – the so-called third place – are central. 

The plan must be supported by the city, its residents, visitors and all stakeholders involved. The city wants the people of Ostend and directly concerned partners to be involved in the creation of this project with regard to both content and form. The partners that are active on or near the site include the library, Thermae Palace / Restotel, Klief, the Royal Racing Club, surf club Inside Outside, Kaap, etc. The designers are expected to provide space for this aspect, together with the city’s participation officer, from the very beginning. Naturally, the city is also committed to continuous communication about the progress of the project. The designer and the city will work closely together to achieve this.

The designer is challenged to develop an integrated and innovative vision with an accompanying strategy. We are looking for well-considered and feasible solutions in the short and longer term, including a view to a possible distant future and a step-by-step approach to achieve this. A first step in the implementation of the master plan is the redevelopment of the area around Thermae Palace. After the demolition of the swimming pool in 2023, a spacious open area was created, centrally located on the coastline, in the middle of the city: a location that attracts everyone’s attention. The administrative team has firmly anchored the transformation from building to park in this specific location in the administrative agreement. The realization of this sub-area of Parc Royal is planned for 2028–29.