Scope – Ostend time planning
Currently ostend is affected by a strong decrease of activities and users during the low seasons. This dysfunctional behaviour needs to be readdressed to conceive a mature and more sustainable development strategy on the short and long terms.
Regional strategy
The project will reinforce the role of ostend as attractor point for the west flanders region. The shore, the historical district and the proximity to the airport will create a strong hub able to intensify the flows with brugges and its harbour.
Tool – Program implementation
The programmatic approach will induce a progressive and systematic evolution of the site. The project will: enhance the existing offer; diversify the activities; introduce temporary activities as attractors; organize a chain of path and services as supports.

The activities on site will promote the coexistence of tourists and residents. The personnel for the management of the beach will operate on a different layer without interfering with the public uses.
Areas – Functional zoning
Several areas are identified on site and thematized.
This operation is the result of the analysis of the surrounding context, with its morphology and elements, and of a new functional logic.
Interbreading the existing and the new, different areas are defined and thematised to differentiate the offer for the visitors:
1 – Sport & leisure pockets
2 – Commercial band
3 – Anchor points/ attractions sites
4 – Platform for staging and temporary activities
5 – Discovery and complementary program venues
6 – Arcades
7 – Parks & green loop
8 – Logistics zone
Support – Beach walk
The path is the reference system to understand the territory and its genius loci. Crumbling any predetermined way, it will superimpose an unforeseen geography inspired by sailing ancient routes imaginary, rich in personal interpretation of the unknown.
The scale and the nature
Working with the wideness of the path will suggest a more personal or more collective experience.
Phasing & project timeline
4 Strategic steps are suggested for the development of the new seafront:
1 – Improve the accesses and the connections with the public transportation
2 – Consolidation of the morphology of the beach and its accessibility
3 – Create a first group of activities able to work as anchor points
4 – Water down the new assets geographically to involve all the lenght of the shore

A project by:
U67 (Fabio Gigone, Angela Gigliotti) with homu (Filippo Nanni, Lucia Zamponi) and Hettie Pisters