Editor’s Note
This excerpt offers a glimpse into the architectural and commercial vibrancy of Antwerp, framing the city’s central station not as a mere transit hub but as a gateway to its historic and luxurious character.
Decidedly, if you are looking for an example of an opulent city, Antwerp fits perfectly. On this beautiful June day, arriving at Antwerp-Central station, a true gem blending Fin-de-Siècle architecture and modernity, is already a delight. While many other cities display unappealing station surroundings, in Antwerp, architectural jewels jump right at you, perfectly renovated, like the Queen Elisabeth Hall, the Opera, not to mention the diamond district running alongside the station to the left, with the zoo balancing it on the right. To the left of the station, towards the old city, the shaded terraces of De Keyserlei beckon for a short coffee break.
Past the Frankrijklei, you continue into Leysstraat. This is where the city of the Sinjoren truly begins, where nothing was ever too beautiful to display the power of the port and its inhabitants, merchants at heart. Because Leysstraat extends into the commercial lung of the Metropolis, one of the most expensive streets in the country, vying for this title with Brussels’ Rue Neuve: the Meir, a true temple gathering major fashion brands, with buildings competing in caryatids, atlantes, and portals, each more majestic than the last, tempting you to splurge.
But there is a hitch. While the Meir is pedestrianized, a certain anarchy reigns in terms of the outdated street furniture. Bikes and scooters circulate as if on a Formula 1 circuit. And then, after the shops close, the Meir becomes almost gloomy.
Aware of the problem, the city launched a competition to turn this artery and its neighbors into a
The winning project is from the design team Sweco, jointly with the Spanish company Bau, the lighting specialist Atelier Jéol based near Lyon, and the heritage office Erfgoed & Visie. Jezusstraat, Leysstraat, and Twaalfmaandenstraat will also be renovated.
By choosing Atelier Jéol, the genuine intention is to dress up the Meir’s buildings for the night, highlighting its monumental architectural heritage. This does not preclude also wanting to create calmer zones during the day. The designers thus envision flower beds, trees providing shade, seating areas, and perhaps even a fountain or another water feature.
Perhaps a pious hope, by giving the Meir the physiognomy of a promenade rather than a street, the designers hope to keep bikes away, at least during peak hours.
The competition launched by the city included four projects, and Sweco was keen to remind that this is indeed a project.
was keen to remind Manu Versluys, Landscape & Public Engineer, project manager at Sweco.
A well-known international brand is in any case making the – not very risky – bet on the Meir. Currently dispersed in various buildings along the artery, Zara is preparing to consolidate everything into one location, Meir Corner, across three floors. For the Spanish chain, with 14,500 m², it will be nothing less than its largest store in the world. An ambitious bet while physical retail suffers from online competition. As highlighted by Pierre-Alexandre Billiet, distribution specialist and CEO of Gondola, to our colleagues at DH: