3 inspiring neighbourhoods for CoGent

In 2022 the mobile immersive space, CoGent, will go on tour in 3 different neighbourhoods of Ghent: Wondelgem, Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham and Watersportbaan-Ekkergem. Each neighbourhood has its own specific features and characteristics creating some great opportunities for us to work with.

Although we would have preferred working in all Ghent neighbourhoods this was not realistic considering the total scope of the project. A selection had to be made.

The process of neighbourhood selection was managed by the different project partners by creating a ‘neighbourhood selection plan’, in which different parameters of neighbourhoods in Ghent were analyzed. The selection was based on geography and a wide range of quantitative and qualitative metrics.

Want to learn more about the selection process? Then, watch this video (in Dutch).

Wondelgem with its 17.064 inhabitants has a variety of charming green spots and quite a lot of active unions and associations. It has a large amount of young families and despite being part of Ghent, it still resembles a small village.

The largest opportunities of Watersportbaan-Ekkergem are its proximity to the city center, the lovely Bijloke grounds (with a School of Arts, the STAM museum and the presence of different cultural organisations), the Watersportbaan (canal mainly used for kayaking and water sports) and the green area of the Blaarmeersen. The neighbourhood has quite some high-rise apartment buildings in which young and old citizens live together.

Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham is densely populated and super diverse. The Sleepstraat is commonly referred to as the Turkish neigbourhood of Ghent. Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham is filled with new businesses, cultural organisations and has several new housing projects.