Koningin Astridplein
Reimagining Antwerp’s front door
2024
Introduction
The redesign of Koningin Astridplein draws inspiration from Queen Astrid’s charitable legacy, particularly her focus on women and children. The goal is to create a welcoming space for the broader Antwerp community, with a special emphasis on the area’s diverse neighborhoods, fostering a sense of safety and ownership.
The design metaphorically places “gems” from Queen Astrid’s tiara across the square, creating distinct areas of activity such as a children’s play zone, an outdoor performance space, a food kiosk, and a reflective pool. The layout draws on the historic context of Antwerp Central Station, the Queen Elisabeth Concert Hall, and the Antwerp Zoo, while ensuring a universally accessible and secure environment for all users.
The proposal also integrates multiple layers of vegetation and hard surfaces, including existing paving and compacted gravel, to manage thermal comfort and stormwater. The sunken play area serves a dual purpose, acting as a storage space for floodwater during extreme weather events.
Technical details
City of Antwerp
Photo: Proloog
Crucial transfer hub
Located in the heart of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein has served as the main gateway for passengers arriving at Central Station since the early 20th century. Over time, it has evolved into a crucial transfer hub for various modes of public transport and a significant public space in the city.
The competition brief outlined three primary objectives for participants: To create a smart, flexible, and compact transportation node, to enhance social safety within the public realm, and to future-proof the plaza against climate-related challenges.
Functionality and accessibility
The redesign of Astridplein was guided by key principles aimed at enhancing both functionality and accessibility. A central objective was to declutter the space, creating a barrier-free, universally accessible surface. Pedestrian circulation was realigned to better connect with the central axis of Antwerp Central Station. Strategically placed programmatic “gems” offer future opportunities for public engagement, while the spaces between them allow for flexible programming and smooth pedestrian movement.
An urban forest and groundcover vegetation were introduced to establish a new microclimate, improving the comfort and environmental quality of the square. To strengthen connectivity, Carnotstraat was widened to accommodate buses, trams, and access to the Astrid Metro station, aligned with the Central Station entrance. This redesign enhances the flow of people, integrates better with surrounding transport networks, and creates an inviting public space for the diverse communities in the area.
Photo: Proloog
Two lightweight reflective pavilions mark the entrances to underground functions, including bike parking, metro stations, and car parking. The existing underground parking was reorganized to prioritize bike and pedestrian movement, improving accessibility between key connection points and fostering a more seamless transition throughout the space.
A welcoming space
The redesigned Astridplein is intended to create a welcoming space for everyone—from neighborhood residents and daily commuters to first-time visitors and passersby. The square is defined by strategically placed "gems" and flexible programming in the station forecourt and gravel carpet, fostering a sense of belonging, ownership, and safety at the heart of Antwerp.
At the north end, a compact transportation hub consolidates trams, buses, and metro access, freeing up the main plaza for recreational activities. Cyclists are prioritized with expanded bike parking at the lower level, improved daylighting, and clearer wayfinding between transport modes.
The plaza’s design uses a mix of hard and soft surfaces to distinguish areas for movement and relaxation, promoting intuitive pedestrian flow. A layered system of vegetation—including tree canopies, green roofs, and groundcovers—enhances surface permeability and attracts pollinators to inhabit Astridplein.
Compact transportation hub.
Pedestrian circulation + flexible programming.
Layers of vegetation.
The renewed Koningin Astridplein.