Urban development plan for SHAPE-village

The Headquarters of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) - one of NATO's strategic military commands - are located north of the Belgian city of Mons. The administrator of Shape-Village published a public tender for the feasibility study on the conversion or replacement of 600 homes on the site of Shape-Village. The study consists of an urban planning study, a schedule for phasing of the work and a financial plan. ORG-Arcadis put forward some urban aspects: the mixing of different typologies and the increase of variety, preserving as much as possible green space, defining a distinction between collective and private green, the connection between the monofunctional zones of SHAPE village and the encouragement of soft traffic (pedestrians and cyclists) by applying a “programmed platform” that connects to different 'neighborhoods'. These aspects were translated into a spatial development plan, with many degrees of freedom for concrete interpretation and practical implementation. The two main elements of the plan are the programmed platform and the grouping of dwellings in strips. These strips contain a much higher density housing than the current situation in SHAPE, but all the space around the strip remains empty and green. The platform touches the housing strips at multiple places and includes some recreational functions. It has sections that are parallel to the existing road infrastructure and other separated parts, like near the existing shopping center. ORG , Arcadis, PwC ADvisory (financial advice), DLA Piper (legal advice)