The decision to relocate the parking spaces underground at the Grote Markt square in Vilvoorde, presented an opportunity to think about the role and identity of this central square. The square has the potential to once again become the main meeting point in the city, with good connections to shopping streets and cultural attractions in the immediate vicinity.
The design provides a guide on how the Grote Markt can become a high quality place to dwell, competing with the comfort of indoor malls. This is precisely why a big gesture in the form of an iconic canopy is being introduced to enhance the historical frame of the square with a contemporary architectural interpretation to make a visit to Vilvoorde memorable. This intervention, supplemented by a large water feature, sufficient seating, new trees and the expansion of the existing terraces, makes the Grote Markt a gathering point in the city where all sorts of activities can take place, without losing its attractivity on an ordinary weekday.
