Design firms tapped to plan Kortrijk's new station area

Kortrijk's city council has tasked two design firms with developing plans to reshape the environment around the city's train station. This initiative follows previous investments in the area, including a tunnel, underground parking, a station boulevard, a bus station, and the creation of the Conservatoriumpark and Casinotuin.

The current station district in Kortrijk is characterized by its complexity and high traffic volume. The renovation aims to prioritize safety, logical circulation patterns, and an enhanced living experience for residents and travelers. Key challenges include establishing a clear and secure station square as a public meeting space, ensuring seamless connections to the station, underpass, parking facilities, and bicycle storage, and optimizing traffic circulation for all users.

"With Studio Paola Viganò and Fallow bv, we are bringing in an internationally renowned firm with clear roots in Kortrijk," stated Wout Maddens, alderman for Urban Renewal. "They know the city and have proven their capabilities with projects like their vision for Hoog-Kortrijk, the development of the Noord-Zuidas, and the redesign of the Grote Markt. This gives us confidence that we can approach this project thoughtfully and with high quality."

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With Studio Paola Viganò and Fallow bv, we are bringing in an internationally renowned firm with clear roots in Kortrijk. They know the city, and have proven their capabilities with projects like their vision for Hoog-Kortrijk, the development of the Noord-Zuidas, and the redesign of the Grote Markt. This gives us confidence that we can approach this project thoughtfully and with high quality.

Mobility alderman Trui Steenhoudt added, "Everything must be logical and well-organized. The station area is currently a busy hub where many different users converge: pedestrians, cyclists, bus travelers, taxis, cars, trucks, and people with reduced mobility. We want to evolve towards an environment that is clear, safe, and pleasant for everyone to move through and spend time in."

The project will be implemented in phases. The design team will first develop a global vision and a preliminary design for the entire station environment. Based on this, various sub-projects will be further developed and realized in the coming years, with initial focus on the station square side. This station project is a collaboration between the City of Kortrijk, De Lijn (Flemish public transport company), NMBS (Belgian National Railway Company), and Infrabel (Belgian railway infrastructure manager).

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Everything must be logical and well-organized. The station area is currently a busy hub where many different users converge: pedestrians, cyclists, bus travelers, taxis, cars, trucks, and people with reduced mobility. We want to evolve towards an environment that is clear, safe, and pleasant for everyone to move through and spend time in.