Transformation of the Brownfield: Envisioning a Landscape-Based Redevelopment Solution for Ford Genk in Limburg, Belgium

The dynamic interplay between urban development and brownfields has undergone a profound transformation over the course of history. In the early 20th century, urban development was predominantly shaped by the rapid industrialization and the expansion of cities to accommodate growing populations and industries. However, when the concept of sustainable development gained prominence in the post-industrial era in the 1990s, the term "brownfield", as a semantic counterpart to "greenfield", emerged as a subject of extensive debate in academic discourse within the urban studies realm. A large body of literature has examined its definition from a multidisciplinary perspective since that time In the United States, land defined as brownfield is commonly associated with contamination stemming from its previously uses, such as heavy industries usually inside urban areas While in countries as the United Kingdom and Belgium, the term places emphasis on the point that its previous productive use is currently in a blight in the post-Fordism era This previous developed land is now derelict or underused that has been affected by it former uses. Therefore, calling for its favorable return to beneficial re-use is in line with sustainable land use strategies in cities In the 1980s, designers and practitioners initiated efforts aimed at transforming brownfields into green spaces and parks Brownfield redevelopment is aesthetically pleasing environment to attract local communities and tourists as well Brownfield redevelopment and transformation provides alternative re-use options from a sustainable standpoint in post-industrial society. As argued by By upgrading through interventions, such as converting them into recreational spaces and residential Abstract: Brownfield redevelopment aims to convert derelict or defunct land for re-use in contemporary cities by employing beneficial interventions. This research, using the Ford Genk case study in Belgium as a focal point, advances a landscape-based approach to envision a prospective transformation of this former automotive industrial site. Through literature review as well as spatial analyses and mapping of the site and its surrounding urban tissue, the proposal establishes a closed-loop system to manage the circulation of waste, energy, and water within the framework of landscape urbanism. The proposed scheme introduces productive aquaculture landscapes designed to not only mitigate existing industrial byproducts through ecological remediation but also reposition the site as a potential economic enabler. This landscape-centered intervention seeks to re-integrate the land with the urban fabric, harmonizing ecological, economic development, and socio-cultural aspects into a unified strategy. This paper also advocates for landscape urbanism practices as a more effective and environmentally friendly approach to brownfield redevelopment compared with conventional hard infrastructure methods. The proposed landscape-based solution offers the potential for revitalizing brownfields, making them integral parts of urban development.