Launch of Turnhout station district conversion
On the former sites of Foresco and Atelfond, between Merodelei and Guldensporenlei, a brand new district will be created: ‘Niefhout’. Sale of its first homes began on 25 October. Construction work will begin in spring 2015, and the first residents will be able to move in one year later.
Partnership
Three parties joined forces for this project: Turnhout municipal authorities, developer ION and Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV). Together they undertook renovation of the Turnhout station district, which covers a total area of approximately 7,8 hectares. As part of the SLIM Turnhout venture, they will work together over the coming years to create a new district for smart living and working (slim is Dutch for smart).
Development will be phased. The first phase involves construction of 26 homes with gardens and 80 apartments on the former site of Foresco, between Diksmuidestraat and Guldensporenlei. Houses, studios and apartments, with one, two or three bedrooms will be put on sale.
This district will become an agreeable place to live thanks to its prime location by the station, the new marina, the Warande cultural centre and shopping streets, as well as more than 20.000 m² of newly converted public space, a games area and plenty of greenery. There will be little traffic, and most parking will be underground.
Clean and accessible
Well-known Antwerp architects’ firm POLO Architects (Poponcini & Lootens) has chosen modern, imposing architecture that will please the young and the not so young alike. Houses and apartment buildings will be built in red-brown brick – a nod to the site’s industrial past – with living roofs. A deliberate decision was made to build affordable, energy efficient houses.
Extra attention has been paid to accessibility, for both partners with pushchairs and persons with reduced mobility. And a new district needs new street names. So far there are two: Dokter Nand Peetersstraat and Bouwschen Pad. They lead to Guldensporenlei and Diksmuidestraat respectively.
Estate agents are holding a launch event on 25 October 2014. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the project will be presented to everyone who is interested, and sales will start. A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m., with a welcome speech given by alderman Francis Stijnen.
Come along and join in!
Practical information:
11 a.m., Saturday 25 October 2014
Foresco site, Guldensporenlei, Turnhout
More information at www.niefhout.be, www.slimturnhout.be
