Site view within the urban fabric © Snøhetta
Curated by ArchiRev Editorial | Feature Story | Published April 21st, 2026| Source: Snøhetta
Typologies: Mixed Use, Residential
Status: Completed
Location: Roeselare, Belgium
Client: ION, Steenoven
Collaborators: B2Ai
Size: 17,500 m2
Photos: Philippe van Gelooven
For decades, an elevated railway and a series of fragmentary buildings have divided Roeselare, Belgium. Roelevard is currently transforming the region into a cohesive, vibrant urban district. The reinterpretation of the project site has made it easier to travel around the region, both pedestrian ally and for regular purposes. Roelevard will provide mixed-use development that combines residential, commercial, and workplace activities in order to integrate the surrounding urban environment and establish a new focal point for activity in this portion of Roeselare.
Contrast between taller and lower buildings © Snøhetta
The plan is based on two buildings that blend in with their surroundings due to their height and placement. The structure on the south is nearer the rail station. It has 12 stories, making it a significant section of the city. The structure to the north has four levels and blends in with the surrounding houses. This height disparity makes the entire project appear smaller and allows the various portions of the city to flow together more effectively. The placement of these structures generates certain places that serve as an extension of the buildings and a pleasant location for people to gather.
Roelevard is a community where people live and work. There are 81 houses and around 6,000 square meters of office space. There are additional shops on the ground floor. These shops attract people to the region and make it feel more connected to the rest of the city. Roelevard adds to the city’s existing commercial streets. It accomplishes this by providing shops and activities on the bottom floor. There are parking spaces underneath Roelevard. Keep bicycles. This implies that individuals can simply travel to Roelevard. The space on the ground is only for pedestrians. Roelevard is a combination of houses, workplaces, and businesses all in one location.
Retail Frontage with Pedestrians © Snøhetta
Building facades express each building type’s internal functions. Ground-level shops and retail spaces have wide and clear façades, allowing for a direct visual relationship between them. The floor plates of the offices above are more rhythmically consistent, but the residential levels extend out from the building’s main façade, creating balcony spaces that help to identify each level of residential and establish a visual separation between floors. These modifications in façade design help to attenuate the massive volumes while also expressing the uses within each building.
A network of public areas connects the two towers and serves as the project’s social glue. Public plazas, seating areas, and amphitheatre-style spaces provide a location for people to congregate and relax, making the journey through the complex enjoyable. These places promote casual and big group use, emphasizing the concept of a shared urban space.
Environmental performance is crucial. We address it with an energy strategy that eliminates fossil fuels. The development connects to a thermal network that uses waste heat and biomass, lowering its environmental impact. We also have roofs and landscaped terraces, which improve performance and make the buildings appear softer.
Green Rooftop Terraces © Snøhetta
Our method integrates planning, mixed-use projects, and environmental strategies to transform a fragmented land into an urban region. Roelevard strikes a balance between being dense and open, creating a space that is ideal for both moving and settling in. It also deepens its ties with the city. The environmental performance is critical here. We ensure that Roelevard supports it. The property becomes a location as a result of Roelevard’s emphasis on environmental performance.