JFK 2008 – finalist

City of Oostende - Assignment
Oostende is a port city located in Belgium. The defining aspect of its emergence and development has been and continues to be its location by the North Sea. Today, Oostende is primarily a spa and recreational center due to its location, while personal and cargo shipping and fishing still play a significant role here.
The coast of Oostende is divided into western and eastern shores by a shipping canal. The current center is situated in the western part near the canal, which merely constitutes its edge. Our task was to design an urban solution for the eastern part of the city, which previously served as an industrial zone mainly for shipping and fishing, but today most of the area is underutilized.

Urban Concept Solution in Relation to the City
In my proposal, I wanted to create a new Oostende, consisting of two parts, eastern and western; these parts are not the same, each having different advantages and character, but they complement each other and form a whole. The area around the canals and docks is no longer the "dirty" edge of the city, but rather its center.
Today's center is built on a medieval layout with a number of narrow streets and a network of public squares. The height dominant of the center is a newly built 105m high apartment building. The character of the eastern shore is completely different, with open areas featuring local points of interest. This site has significant potential for city development, lying close to the historical center, near the sea and docks, and its coast constitutes a protected natural area with dunes and historical fortifications.

Concept of the Eastern Part Solution
I decided to concentrate the development in the eastern part along the most attractive line by the fishing dock, which continues towards the sea. Here, I proposed a clear spatial structure that supports and utilizes the advantages of the eastern location while allowing the rest of the area to maintain its natural character without continuous development. The continuous residential structure extends from the mainland towards the sea, its imaginary direction expressing the character of the city as a port. The structure forms a linear city that begins at the main transport route, continues around the existing fishing dock to the dunes, and further into the sea, respecting the newly emerging harbor pier. The line is 2 km long, rising from the ground level to a mid-height of 12 floors, which then increases to 17 floors at the end in the sea. The line is divided into smaller sections to maintain sightlines between significant buildings of the eastern and western parts of the city. The continuous connection along the entire length is provided in the traffic levels (3rd and 4th floors with garages for residents) and at the roof level, where there is an ongoing public walkway with a unique view complemented by additional services (restaurants, relaxation and meditation centers, swimming pool, etc.). Part of the rooftop area is also designated for private purposes (luxury apartments, studios, etc.). The linear city incorporates various urban functions in relation to the different environments it traverses (maritime museum, nature reserve center, etc.) and culminates at a chapel facing west towards the sea. The line is not uniform along its entire length; its function and appearance may change, and it is possible to subdivide it functionally both vertically and horizontally. As an example, I focused on the southeastern part. The first two floors are primarily designated for shops, administration, services (kindergarten, health center, etc.), while the fifth and higher floors are primarily intended for residential use.

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archiweb: The jury had only a few minutes to assess each project, seeing only one sheet and could only evaluate its final form. However, we would still be interested in the journey and development of the project throughout the semester. Can you reflect and summarize the path of how the assignment evolved, how the appearance was refined, and how consultations thrived?

Tereza Naarová: In the first half of the semester, I participated in an international workshop where we worked in groups on the urban planning of the eastern part of Oostende. We had the opportunity to live and work directly in the area for more than a week, which was certainly the most crucial period for clarifying the assignment and developing my concept. Rather than the results of the workshop, I was inspired by the surrounding environment and the interesting discussions during the workshop. The subsequent consultations in Liberec were certainly beneficial for finalizing the project, but I did not change the basic concept anymore.

archiweb: The accompanying report for most projects is often created the night before submission, which affects the stylistic level. The unimportance of the written word goes hand in hand with the public secret that "architects do not read and only look." Could you still describe your project in a few brief sentences?

Tereza Naarová: In my project, I addressed the urbanism of the eastern part of the Belgian port of Oostende, where there are today mostly abandoned fishing areas. I wanted to create a new part of the city that has a different character than the historical core and utilizes the advantages of the area being addressed: the view of the sea, the historical center and docks, proximity to the protected natural area. The result is a concentration of development into a spatially clear linear structure that leads from the mainland into the sea and encompasses various urban functions.