Inclusive Urban Renewal
A Human-Centric Approach to the Blikfabriek Site
A.J.B. Maassen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S. Stalker – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
Eireen Schreurs – Mentor (TU Delft - Situated Architecture)
A.S.C. Meijer – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
W. J. Quist – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Heritage & Architecture)
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Abstract
This project reimagines a former factory site, called the Blikfabriek, in Hoboken, Antwerp, as a vibrant social and cultural area. This project presents a potential new urban masterplan for the site and an architectural design for a community theater. The project begins with research into neighborhood dynamics, particularly the lack of inclusive public spaces. Responding to these insights, the group masterplan introduces a sequence of shared spaces along a new central axis that activates the site throughout the day.
Within this framework, the individual project transforms an old factory hall into a community theatre and drama school. This project is set in one of the abandoned factory halls. Key architectural elements of this hall, such as the orginal load bearing structure and the original brick facade are preserved as much as possible. A spacious theatre café forms the social heart of the building, opening onto a public square with flexible seating that invites casual interaction. Studios, rehearsal rooms, and study nooks provide quieter, inward-facing spaces for learning and reflection. The design of these spaces is rooted in researching and observing the community and residents in Hoboken.
By blending adaptive reuse with human-centered design, the project fosters community engagement, supporting both structured cultural programs and informal everyday use. It highlights architecture’s potential to strengthen social ties in diverse urban contexts.