Sinterbeckenplatz

Concept

The atmospheric power of the site forms the starting point of our design approach. Our aim is to make the unique character of the former sinter plant tangible and accessible — without romanticising it. The new location of the sinter basin embraces the industrial remnants as the foundation of a distinct identity, while assigning them a renewed purpose. In doing so, the past is neither musealised nor glorified, but preserved in its integrity — allowing its inherent qualities to unfold.

A single, precise intervention — the addition of a largely underground structure that links the surface plaza with the world of the sinter basins below — renders the space accessible, legible and usable. 

New uses and programmes revitalise both the plaza and the proposed subterranean building, unlocking their potential and imbuing them with new energy. The proposed urban and architectural spaces are activated in multiple ways, ensuring that the site’s spatial and atmospheric qualities are preserved over time. 

By enabling appropriation and public use, the design redefines the square as a meaningful civic centre for the new Belval district — a place where local residents actively contribute to the reinterpretation of their neighbourhood.