Ringpark Zuid

The Challenge

Located near the Kennedy Tunnel at Antwerp’s “spaghetti junction,” the Ringpark Zuid site was historically a fragmented, car-dominated zone that disconnected neighborhoods and isolated the city from its natural surroundings. Originally developed for military fortifications and later overtaken by highway infrastructure, the area lacked cohesion, accessibility, and ecological value. The challenge was to reimagine this infrastructural void as a vibrant urban and ecological connector, addressing pressing issues of climate resilience, mobility, and urban livability.

The Solution

Tractebel, in collaboration with its partners, is leading the transformation of this monofunctional traffic node into a compact, green urban landscape. By reducing the road infrastructure footprint by 72%, the project frees up over 43 hectares for public green space. The design introduces a multimodal mobility network with 16 km of new bike lanes, a 1.65 km car-free street, and a major public transport hub. A series of interconnected parks and ecological corridors—including the dune-inspired “Buitenpark,” neighborhood parks, and a “Linear Garden” atop tunnel canopies—will redefine the area. Infrastructure reorganization becomes the catalyst for shaping a resilient, inclusive, and ecologically connected urban environment.

The Impact

Ringpark Zuid is set to transform a disconnected traffic zone into a dynamic ecological and social corridor, linking Antwerp’s urban belts with the Scheldt landscape and reconnecting adjacent neighborhoods. The newly created green spaces will foster biodiversity, regulate heat and water, and offer high-quality public realms for active and inclusive use. Once completed, Ringpark Zuid will stand as a flagship example of sustainable urban redevelopment in Belgium, showcasing how infrastructure can be reimagined to serve both people and the planet.