Mixed-use urban redevelopment and the added-value economy: The case of Ghent, East Flanders

The COVID-19 pandemic is a transitional period that represents a turning point in the history of Europe. This crisis led to the realisation that a previous spatial transformation that involved removing factories from the urban fabric caused the cities’ dependency on global supply chains. To mitigate this, a new democratisation of the economy, in collaboration with new urban policies, could bring qualitative changes to the structure of cities and their businesses. This paper examines the design framework, Building Block Vision (BBV), which is the solution proposed by the Flanders government for the city of Ghent. In devising this framework, Flanders, by following the principle of thinking small first, examined the local architectural typology for inner-city urban areas. These inner-city urban areas once hosted economic activities, something which has gradually diminished over time. By formulating a spatial strategy for revitalising these inner areas and reintegrating them into local economic activities, the opportunity arises to introduce new ways of living. This endeavour incorporates principles of interchangeability, adaptability and innovation. ‘Research by design’ is the approach used to identify the inherent potential of the inner areas of each building block. Through this spatial analysis, the Flanders government anticipates that social and environmental gains can make a significant impact to the economy, rather than being an afterthought.