With the Great Connection, the city of Antwerp wants to connect existing and new neighborhoods on both sides of the Ring Road with more greenery, less noise and cleaner air. In several steps, we examined where the Ring Road could be covered and how these zones could be developed spatially.

Createlli supported the process with stakeholders, administrators and citizens in two phases. The first phase focused on creating a structural vision, followed by the development of subprojects through an extensive participatory design study. Based on this, Ring Parks were identified and further detailed in the second phase.

A distinctive feature of the first phase was the involvement of not only experts and professional stakeholders but also citizens in a complex design research process. To ensure broad community involvement, a variety of methods were used to reach different demographic groups. By providing specialized knowledge, encouraging collective dreaming about spatial design, and collaboratively justifying decisions, social tension and friction were transformed into a shared vision and mutual trust.

The knowledge and insights gained throughout the process were thoroughly documented in a detailed process report, ensuring transparency and capturing the full scope of the community’s input