–
The construction groups Alheem Bouw and Cordeel can start construction of the ambitious new stadium of Club Brugge from next summer. Although Blauw-Zwart will have to pull out all the stops in the coming weeks to convince troubled local residents.
–
But the project is met with suspicion from local residents. They fear that part of the neighborhood will be in the shadow of the new stadium. In addition, there are concerns about light pollution, noise pollution and especially mobility. Blauw-Zwart then organized an information meeting with the neighborhood and also postponed the deadline for the design competition for architects and construction companies by a few weeks.
–
Virtual neighborhood meeting
So now things are moving forward. Club announced on Friday that it is going to work with a consortium around the Cordeel and Alheembouw construction groups for the new stadium. The latter is anything but unknown to the national champion. Alheembouw, also one of the largest school builders in Belgium, has been a Club sponsor for years and has already been commissioned for the training complex in Westkapelle. That project cost the team about 20 million. President Bart Verhaeghe did not want to announce the price tag attached to the new stadium on Friday. “But it’s what we budgeted for.”
–
The new plans were explained on Friday during a virtual meeting with several hundred neighbors of the Jan Breydel complex were invited. The common thread running through the presentations: we have listened to you.
–
The new stadium, designed by the Paris architectural firm that previously undertook the renovation of the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, is already lower at 32 meters than many had feared.
–
The new stadium, designed by the Paris architectural firm that previously undertook the renovation of the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, is already lower at 32 meters than many had feared. In any case, the stadium must fully blend in with its surroundings, Club emphasized
–
The West Flemish textile group Sioen was attracted to this end. He manufactured a special kind of perforated textile that serves as a covering and should give the complex a softer appearance. ‘Think of it as the layer of Bruges lace that we drape over the stadium,’ says Peter Temmerman of Alheelbouw. ‘Although we can also change that into challenging lingerie: on match days, for example, we can have the textile light up in the colors of the club.’
–
Parking in green lung
The old Jan Breydel site will be turned into a park with space for ponds and hundreds of Canadian poplars. A new green lung for Bruges if you like. Although that is relative: on match days the park is turned into a parking lot.
–
–
–
Club emphasizes that for the new project it also wants to tackle the mobility problems in Sint-Andries, for example by allowing visitors to arrive in time, stimulating carpooling (those who only come by car pay a more expensive parking ticket) or by installing more supporters’ buses.
–
Remarkable: apart from a shop, restaurants (there will even be an exclusive VIP restaurant next to the changing rooms) and a museum, Club does not plan any other activities in the complex. The microbrewery or event rooms that were previously hinted at will therefore not be built. ‘This will only be a football stadium, nothing else’, Verhaeghe emphasizes.
–
Club is now giving local residents another two weeks to formulate their reservations about the new stadium plans. With green light, the final plans can be submitted this autumn. ‘We expect to receive our environmental permit by the end of next spring,’ says Verhaeghe. ‘We can then start construction by the summer of 2021, to be ready to play by the start of the 2022/2023 season.’
–
–
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/3184812/original/091539100_1595233749-unnamed__3_.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
