Solidaris
Offices
Solidaris — a new headquarters in a historic part of Ghent.
By relocating its head office from Zwijnaarde to Vrijdagmarkt, Solidaris is returning to its historical roots in the heart of Ghent. To make this move possible, the existing site is being renovated and extended.
Situated between Vrijdagmarkt and the River Leie in Ghent’s historic city centre, the site presents specific challenges in terms of programme, internal and external functionality, and the space required to accommodate the organisation’s activities.
A comprehensive feasibility study of the site’s historical, urban and architectural context laid the foundations for several key design decisions. The project brings together four main interventions: preserving historically significant buildings and features, demolishing the 1990s building on Waaistraat, enhancing buildings with heritage value, and adding new volumes to make more effective use of the site.
Together, the existing and new buildings will form the organisation’s future headquarters. Each retains its own identity while establishing a relationship with both the surrounding urban fabric and the site’s internal courtyard.
