Baudelohof is a key green space in the inner city of Ghent. A revaluation of Ghent’s first botanical garden was long overdue. Removing motorised traffic and the associated infrastructure from the park made it possible to merge the two parts of the park and restore contact with the water. It was within this framework that the city of Ghent appointed OMGEVING to draw up a development and management plan and the construction dossier. The work site supervision was also entrusted to OMGEVING. In the design, reconciling the rich past, green values and desired use is paramount. Maximising the park and extending it into the surrounding streets and facades up to the river Lys creates green connections with the surrounding areas.
When drawing up the preliminary design for Baudelohof, maximum account was taken of the existing stock of monumental trees. A new wide strip of flowering herbaceous plants, referring to the historic canals of 1619, creates a new eye-catcher and frames the new park. New paths outline stylised large grassy plains which, to accommodate height differences, have diverse slopes. The relief differences create gradual, comfortable seating edges along the paths and along the quay on the Lys.
