Muide-Meulestede
Drawing inspiration from Barcelona’s superblocks concept, the City of Ghent is planning to transform its Muide-Meulestede district into a prime example of climate adaptation. There will be a focus on affordable housing and collaborative living, and extensive green infrastructure will be integrated in this densely populated area. Through community engagement, residents will actively shape the neighbourhood’s future, ensuring sustainability and resilience
Green transitions led by the community
- The City supports ongoing urban development projects and citizen-led initiatives that bring real value to the neighbourhood. Examples include: continued evaluation of the greening done with resident participation and city budget, for example removing the pavement of a square to allow rainwater to infiltrate.
- The further development of Master plan ‘Marseillestraat’. This Master plan will draw on the evaluation of Master plan ‘Nieuw Gent’ which was completed last year. It will also incorporate the findings from a Ghent University study (June 2025) on seniors’ needs for public green spaces.
Lead city inspiration
FNO Urban regeneration
Inspired by the ongoing urban renewal in Paris, Ghent is transforming a former industrial site in the Bloemekenswijk neighbourhood into a green, resilient, residential district. This brownfield regeneration project uses data on heat, drought and urban planning to guide sustainable development while preserving the site’s heritage.
Ghent focuses on two key areas for revaluing the site:
Temporary use of renovated warehouse as urban sports hub
While awaiting the full transformation of the site, the eastern warehouse will be temporarily repurposed. The City of Ghent has launched an open call for non-profit organisations to turn the space into a youth hub for urban sports (e.g. 3×3 basketball, skateboarding, freerunning) during 2026–2027. The initiative aims to:
- Provide accessible sports facilities for local youth
- Improve park accessibility and safety
- Develop pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to better connect the neighbourhood to the city centre
- Involve local partners and youth in shaping the activities
- Enhance the site’s appeal for future development through greening public space and reuse of materials
Trialling planting techniques and substrate development
In collaboration with environmental NGOs like Viaverde and GMF, a substrate trial will be conducted on site. The goal is to test planting techniques on rubble-filled, polluted soil, while mapping existing vegetation and potential seed banks. This aligns with the Bloemekenswijk Nature Fabric Plan and includes citizen engagement through initiatives like Bioblitz (= an event during which participants identify as many species as possible within a certain area and timeframe). If successful, this pilot could serve as a model for future ecological development of this site and others. and can provide an answer on the question: How can using local plants and recycled soil improve urban parks?
Lead city inspiration
