The Stuivenberg site is turning into a public, multifunctional park. The entire site will have the character of a cohesive landscape park with varying degrees of openness, opening times, and atmospheres.
As the spatial anchor of the development, we are designing a new rue extérieure—an open, covered access system inspired by the original galleries. The rue extérieure will provide access to the entire building structure throughout all construction phases, making the complex publicly accessible, flexibly divisible, and inviting. It will serve as the public backbone of the park and buildings and will become the primary symbol of the redeveloped hospital. All functions will have their addresses along this gallery.
The design incorporates the site as a landscape park with inner gardens, adding a generous scale to the otherwise dense neighborhood. The new pathway structure will make the park accessible to everyone and connect seamlessly with the rue extérieure. The newly introduced volumes and redesigned connecting elements will restore the readability of the monumental ensemble.
The existing fencing will be preserved, providing a robust framework around the park. At various points around it, wide entrance plazas, or “pressure valves,” will be created. These plazas will feature pergola-like structures, or “berceaux,” which will maintain the integrity of the park’s fencing while offering green, expansive forecourts accessible 24/7.