Kees Christiaanse at MIPIM 2013

The existing national stadium is next to the Atomium the center piece of the area of NEO Brussels, the urban transformation project of KCAP.  Renovation of the stadium is a radical shift in policy. Previously, the city intended to build a new football stadium on the nearby Parking C area. The city announced yesterday that these plans are now cancelled. The masterplan designed by KCAP, in collaboration with ARUP and Fakton, anticipated on four possible scenarios for the stadium: the renovation of the existing venue, a downsizing of the stadium, a newly built stadium at the same location, as well as the demolition of the stadium. In case of demolition and replacement by a new stadium at a different location, the site would be transformed.It is remarkable and in line with the flexibility that KCAP’s urban concepts offer, that the masterplan’s robustness allows for such a change in policy. Especially since the first and second stage of NEO development are already in planning. The first stage is the Europea project by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield/CFE/Besix, a retail center with cinema, leisure, a roof garden and housing. The second stage comprises of a 5.000-seat congress center with hotel, designed by Jean Nouvel. Meanwhile, also the sportspark is being transformed, following the design of Omgeving and Zwarts&Jansma.  The decision to keep the stadium in place is a tribute to the heritage of this site. The first stadium on this location was inaugurated in 1930 and this is the next step in a succession of transformations. The stadium is very well accessible by public transport with two metro stations. When renovated, it will offer an amazing sports and event infrastructure for the city of Brussels. Especially in combination with the adjacent trade fair facilities, the Palais 12 concert venue and the future congress center.Find here more info about the NEO ...

With the winning competition design for the international Convention center and Hotel by the consortium with CFE / Cofinimmo together with Ateliers Jean Nouvel, the second phase of NEO Brussels is taking shape. KCAP, masterplanner of the entire NEO Brussels project, is excited about the progress and the development of a high-quality Convention center. KCAP’s NEO Brussels masterplan prescribes the redevelopment of the Heysel Plateau, one of the most strategic locations in the Brussels Metropole Region. The urban design aims to strengthen the significance of the Heysel and to define it within a framework for sustainable development. The combined Convention center and Hotel will be a valuable anchor within the masterplan that extends the programmatic diversity of the urban development. Its location will tie together Brussels Expo with the larger collection of attractions and natural surroundings. The Convention center as a destination is supported by the high-quality public transport connections proposed in the masterplan and fits within the sustainability strategy of the larger development. The design likewise respects the historic nature of the context, the importance of the Atomium and the vital connectivity of the pedestrian and public space networks created in the masterplan. KCAP supervised the design development during the tender procedure and advised the client (NEO scrl whose shareholding is held by the City of Brussels and the Brussels-Capital Region) during the different dialogue phases. This was conducted in the context of a multi-disciplinary tender team in which experts from the fields of design, engineering, sustainability, legal and financial aspects closely worked with the client to achieve the best possible result. The winning design has been presented by Jean Nouvel on Friday, September 7th, 2018 during a press conference in Brussels.

KCAP is pleased to welcome you at MIPIM in Cannes, March 13th-16th, Holland Metropole stand C19.E. Contact us for more information: communications@kcap.eu.

On Tuesday, 14th of March, Irma van Oort will be presenting in two sessions at MIPIM to which we cordially invite you: The New Deal - Building for Sharing The potential of flexible and affordable housing Holland Metropole in collaboration with the City of Copenhagen and IFHP With: moderator IFHP CEO Anette Galskjøt When: Tuesday March 14, from 2 to 3 pm Where: Salon Croisette, Palais des Festivals Mix to the Max! The architects perspective on supermixed areas Holland Metropole + Royal institute of architecture (BNA) Moderator: Fred Schoorl with contributions of UNStudio, KCAP Architects&Planners, Benthem Crouwel and Mecanoo When: Tuesday March 14, from 4 to 4.30 pm Location: Holland Metropole Pavilion (C19.E) Find here the entire program of Holland Metropole at MIPIM.      

KCAP Architects&Planners would like to meet you at MIPIM 2017 in Cannes! The team of KCAP is pleased to welcome you between 14th and 16th of March at Holland Metropole, stand C19.E Will you join this year’s MIPIM? We would be happy to meet you there. Do you want to make an appointment? Mail us via pr@kcap.eu or call the KCAP representatives directly: Irma van Oort +31 (6)50 220 828 Ute Schneider +41 (0)78 898 8583 Xavier Blaringhem +41 (0)78 629 7662 [[file:mipim2017]]  

KCAP will be attending MIPIM 2016 in Cannes from March 15th – 18th. Do you want meet us there? Team KCAP - Ruurd Gietema, Irma van Oort, Masha Pidodnia and Jos Melchers - will be happy to get together with you in Cannes. Please feel free to contact us via ++31 650 220 828 (Irma van Oort) or pr@kcap.eu. A special highlight will be the presentation of our recent competition win ‘Vasilievsky Island’ at the stand of St. Petersburg, C11, Croisette 11, which will take place on Tuesday, March 15th at 14.30 - 15.00. The project will be presented jointly by Glorаx Development with KCAP Architects&Planners  and Orange architects.

KCAP is proud to be included with 2 projects in the Yearbook Landscape Architecture and Urban Design 2014. With FredericiaC in the category 'the innovative city' and with OZ Nature Urbaine Montpellier in 'station areas'.

Kees Christiaanse together with Benedikt Boucsein and Christian Salewski are the authors of an article within the topic 'Station and airport in the city' of S+RO 2014/05. [[file:sro201405]]

Brussels will be one of 13 host cities of the Euro 2020 soccer championship. This was announced today by UEFA. A new stadium will be realized in Brussels to accommodate the event. The Eurostadium will be built on parking C within KCAP’s masterplan. After the tournament it will serve as stadium for the Belgian Rode Duivels and RSCA Anderlecht. KCAP, in cooperation with Arup and Deloitte and assigned by the city of Brussels, has prepared the bid book of Brussels for Euro 2020. Currently, KCAP is involved on behalf of the city of Brussels in the tender procedure in which 3 candidates compete for the commission. The final selection is expected in the beginning of 2015. The stadium will be realized by 2019.

In Montpellier the construction of the infrastructure for the realisation of KCAP's masterplan OZ Nature-Urbaine has started. The first progression of the infrastructure bindle building process is visible and gives an impression of the new TGV station site.

On April 25, the Brussels City Council announced the awarding of the public contract for the first part of NEO Brussels on the Heysel Plateau. The construction of 590 homes, a shopping centre and a new leisure infrastructure has been entrusted to the Unibail-Rodamco / CFE / Besix consortium which was selected above two other competitors. The masterplan for NEO Brussels is designed by KCAP in collaboration with Arup and Fakton. The team has also consulted the city of Brussels during the tender procedure. The work should be able to commence in 2017. More information of this first part of NEO can be found on the project website of 'Europea'.

Last week, king Filip and queen Mathilde of Belgium made their joyous entry in Brussels. After a reception in the Brussel's Parliament they went to the main market (Grote Markt) and the city hall. There a few current topics about Brussels’ region were presented, one of them KCAP’s urban regeneration project NEO Brussels.

Kees Christiaanse contributes to the current issue of Dutch monthly De Architect about station areas with his essay: 'Europe by train' (Europa per spoor).De Architect: 'In his article Kees Christiaanse examines in detail the German and French approach to developing a network of high speed trains. He concludes that the implementation of high-speed lines does not compete with other modes of transport such as cars and aircraft, but supplemts them. It is up to the traveler to find the right combination of modes of transport.'  [[file:1306dearchitect]] 

KCAP Architects&Planners in collaboration with landscape architects ILEX and sustainability advisor Oasiis are selected for the development of the area Quartier Gare TGV.  The commission, chaired by Jean-Pierre Moure, President of Montpellier Agglomeration, has appointed KCAP’s design after a 6 months competitive dialogue procedure with international three candidates including team Christian de Portzamparc (France) and team Daniel Libeskind (USA). The development called ‘Oz Montpellier Nature Urbaine’ is one of the ‘grand projets’ of the Montepellier Agglomeration and comprises of a 350 ha area around the future TGV station to be built in the south of the city. The area will develop in a mixed urban district with 5.000 residences, parks and gardens, commercial and recreation facilities and a business area of European scale with 350,000 m² of offices. As it expands between the city of Montpellier, the airport and the Mediterranean Sea it involves as well the future high-speed railway line LGV between Montpellier and Nimes and the new motorway A9. ‘In order to direct this development in a sustainable way over a long period, we have designed a strong underlying framework of public spaces with the landscape as an important base and driver. This framework, that carefully incorporates the new infrastructure, allows for a phased development that is open for change, but that creates a strong identity at the same time,’ says Kees Christiaanse. Validation of the masterplan is estimated in the summer of 2013. The first offices should be delivered in late 2017.

On Monday 7th May 2012 the local council of the City of Brussels decided to launch the two procurement contracts which constitute the second phase of the NEO project (redevelopment of the Heyzel Plateau as a strategic centre for international development in Brussels).   See [[file:tweedefaseneo]] for more information.