Precast concrete completes picture of innovative Cityriver in Ostend

The Cityriver in Ostend combines sustainable water policy with an innovative design. The classic street gully makes way for a real 'city river' that allows the rainwater to slowly infiltrate into the soil. Since the Cityriver is part of the prestigious Oosteroever development, the aesthetic picture must also be right. Ebema's precast architectural concrete elements were chosen for the coping stones and some of the stepping stones and seating blocks.

The development of Oosteroever is in full swing today. In this new part of town in Ostend's historic port, a mix of housing, stores and restaurants is rising and the public domain is also getting an attractive new design.

Sustainability and aesthetics go hand in hand

Since last summer, the Cityriver, an urban river that collects rainwater, which is then given the chance to infiltrate the sandy soil in a delayed manner, has been flowing in Victoria Avenue. "An underground water buffer stores excess rainwater in wet periods so that it can be used in periods of drought, for example, to water the plants or clean the public domain," says Kris Derveaux, project manager for the City of Ostend. "We also put our best foot forward aesthetically. The design has a whimsical shape, such that the river meanders through the streetscape. The stepping stones in the bed provide a playful effect and we worked with level differences to achieve the sound of flowing water." 

Drawing a design is one thing, seeing it realized is another. For the Cityriver's edging, the City of Ostend partnered with Ebema. "We supplied the coping stones, as well as a number of stepping stones and seating blocks. The seating stand was also designed with our precast concrete elements," says Maarten Mathijssen, product manager at Ebema.

Technical and logistical challenge

The erratic shape of the Cityriver required Ebema to be creative. "In terms of drawing, this project presented our team with an enormous challenge," says Mathijssen. "The river's embankment consists of hundreds of L-walls in architectural concrete, which, precisely because of their whimsical shape, are not standard elements. In total, we delivered no fewer than 1,200 elements, consisting of some 150 different types. Our production team pulled out all the stops to make all the molds to size, and to ensure that each element was neatly labeled. In this way, we were able to make it easier for the contractor on site to install everything, without having to go back and re-measure each time."

Successful collaboration

That contractor on duty was Seru, with whom Ebema also already provided the Koksijde seawall with 30-meter-long planting beds. "Seru was very satisfied with that cooperation and the quality of our materials, so the company also partnered with us again for the Ostend project," Mathijssen said.

As for the color and finish of the concrete elements, the standard gray architectural concrete was chosen, without finishing and in a smooth finish. "That combined nicely with the polished pavement of Victory Avenue," Mathijssen believes. "And the result is very pleasing. Passersby are naturally drawn to the Cityriver, and children can also have fun there. It is a pleasant place to be. And with this beautiful project, we and Ebema are also contributing to a climate-adaptive city." 

The City of Ostend is also pleased with the result. "We can draw such a beautiful design, but it also has to be executed. That execution stands or falls with the quality of the supplied materials and with the contractor who installed everything with the necessary care and precision," concludes Dervaux.