Park Sophoras Gistel

The City of Gistel acquired a former 1.5-hectare private estate to convert into a climate-adaptive, publicly accessible urban park. Plant en Houtgoed, in collaboration with Fallow, led the transformation into a multifunctional green space focused on ecology, social cohesion, and urban integration.

A participatory design process involving local residents and stakeholders informed both the spatial layout and programmatic content. The park enhances connections to adjacent facilities such as the library and residential care centre, fostering a cohesive neighborhood landscape.

Ecological assets—such as a mature tree population, vegetation gradients, and microhabitats—were carefully mapped and served as the foundation for the nature-driven design. Key interventions include:

•Enhancing the existing orchard for public use

•Ecological upgrading of woodland (managed by ANB) through naturalization and buffer vegetation

•Introduction of edible landscapes (community garden) and diverse play areas targeting various age groups

•Integration of the care garden into the broader park via removal of physical and visual barriers

The result is a resilient and inclusive urban park, where biodiversity, social interaction, care, and play coexist—improving the quality of life for residents and acting as a model for sustainable urban transformation.