Projects

The proposal of team KROS-ANTEA was laureate for the development of a tourist experience point with integration of historical relics in Boom. This assignment startedn April 2015. 'The Blue stop' project is part of a larger whole of the Rupel Region Visitor Centre. Four major attractions or 'gateways' for the Rupel region will be created : the abbey site of Hemiksem, Noeveren, the water tower of Rumst and Boom as a hub. These gateways refer to each other so that the entire region is connected in terms of content. Boom will hereby act primarily as an infrastructural node in the heart of the region. The Blauwe Halte should connect the already existing nearby elements, in particular the recreational area De Schorre, the bicycle entry point on the Rupel dike, the Nautical Visitor Center and the jetty, and provide the impetus to further explore the Rupel region. The site contains the remains of an old ring furnace. KROS-ANTEA's proposal was to perpetuate this ring furnace in its current state, and with a green roof and attached sections ensure that decay is stopped and the interior space can be used as a restaurant hall.A reference to the original form and function of the ring furnace was integrated into the paving material of the square. Through this different way of looking at this ruin, a high experiential value can be created with more limited resources. This compared to an expensive restoration in its original state.
Unfortunately, the renovation of the old ring furnace was not carried out. The decision was made to build a new visitor center away from the ring furnace in order to achieve greater energy efficiency.

Design : OSQB in association with Kruijne Architectuur (KROS thv)
Program: Energy-efficient tourist experience point
Location: De Schorre, Boom
Length: 600 m²
Phase: works completed 2018
Client: Province Antwerpen