Bula, or how Bruges can be much more than its past

What will the city of the future look like? Coming up with a single definition is not easy, but there are a number of factors that play a role in reinventing the urban fabric.

With the highly ambitious Belgian Bula project in the Flemish province of West Flanders we get an example of what the ideal city of the near future could look like. Bula, designed by Olivier Salens Architects, led by project developer Global Estate Group and with Vandenbussche as the main contractor, not only promises a new dynamic in and – above all – around Bruges, but also aims to serve as a blueprint for future urban development in historical contexts.

New use for the Veemarkt

How does Bruges want to take a giant step forward at a time when sustainability, liveability and connectivity are central to urban development? On the historic site of the former Veemarkt, where cattle was traded weekly from 1952 to 2019, we can see how Bula is transforming an area of approximately 34,000 m² into a future-oriented and future-proof urban village where living, working and leisure come together in harmony.

“The name was not chosen at random”, explains Olivier Salens. “Bula is derived from the English word bull and the Latin word vacca, meaning cow. It is a short, powerful name with a nice reference to the history of the site. The first letter B also refers to the B of Bruges, and the inverted A in the logo forms the horns of the cow/bull.”

The Veemarkt will be given a contemporary purpose with Bula. The project comprises more than 150 residential units (including apartments and, for example, single-family homes above the studios), office spaces, shops, restaurants and studios.

Largest geothermal initiative in Belgium

Bula stands out for its emphasis on sustainability. The project will be the largest geothermal initiative in Belgium, with 250 boreholes, each 150 metres deep, representing a total of 37.5 kilometres of drilling. This geothermal heat network, combined with heat pumps, will provide all buildings on the site with fossil-free heating and cooling.

In addition, around 300 solar panels will be installed, with a total capacity of 120 kWp. All buildings comply with the Flemish BEN standards (Ed.: ‘Bijna-EnergieNeutraal’ or nearly energy neutral), and green roofs and park areas are being created. The underground car park will offer 325 public parking spaces, 120 private garage boxes and 260 bicycle parking spaces, with 81 public charging stations and the possibility of installing charging stations in each private parking space.

Six buildings

The project comprises six buildings, De Commerce, De Moakers, De Torre, De Mart, Den Hoek and a central square. These are all connected by a 16,000 m² underground space that provides parking and other facilities. The heart of the site will be De Mart. This will consist of a new 5,400 m² market square surrounded by a 3,300 m² park. A modern market hall in glass and wood will be built on this market square. It will be located on exactly the same site as the historic cattle market halls, anchoring the spirit of the place (genius loci) for the future. In the future, the Sunday market, which has been an important social event in this suburb of Bruges for many years, will be held every week in and around the new hall. De Commerce will consist of 14 office spaces ranging from 260 to 1,086 m².

In addition to De Commerce and De Mart, there is another important residential section aimed at those who want to live sustainably and comfortably in the heart of Bruges. De Moakers will feature 12 duplex lofts with large sun terraces, while De Torre will accommodate two residential towers with 59 energy-efficient apartments, all designed with quality and contemporary living comfort in mind. These two residential towers border the site's green city park, which should make it a pleasant place to live. In addition, there is Den Hoek, a 701 m² commercial space along the main thoroughfare (the Koningin Astridlaan) and apartments.

The greenery in the project is evident in the future park, which will cover a quarter of the site with its 3,300 m². This park will not only be a place of tranquillity for residents, but will also serve as a new green lung for the neighbourhood. With an abundance of trees, greenery, walking paths and recreational space, it aims to offer a place where local residents can relax and come together.

Lively urban village

Kathleen Dewulf, CEO of Global Estate Group, on the expected impact of Bula: “This is one of the most ambitious construction projects Bruges has seen in years. The size of the excavated construction site alone, almost 15,000 m² or an area of almost three football pitches, makes it one of the largest in West Flanders. It illustrates how radical and forward-looking the redevelopment of this historic site is. With its underground car park, market hall and green park, Bula will be a vibrant place where people will want to live and work. This project should be a model of how you can preserve heritage while creating a sustainable future.”

The Bruges city council, for its part, emphasises how Bula represents a revival of village life within an urban context. With a mix of functions, intelligently stacked on top of each other, and a strong focus on sustainability and community building, including the preservation of the Sunday market, this project is seen as a response to the challenges of contemporary urban development. The combination of historical value, modern architecture and innovative energy solutions should make it a model project for the future of urban living in Belgium.