The Rampart, The Traffic Artery, and the Park; Designing for the city regions of Antwerp

Conclusion
Figure 1.25
Never a place of destination.
Never a place of destination
Throughout its history, Linkeroever has never really developed to become
anything more than a place you go through to get to the other side of the river.
What started in the 16th century with the ferry transporting travellers to the other
side of the Scheldt, and continued in the 18th century with the arrival of the
train, and now, in the 20th (and 21st) century, developed to the highway that
almost literally cuts Linkeroever in half at the Charles de Costerlaan. Plaguing
the district with traffic congestion.
Several factors can be held responsible for this. The first (1) is that the Scheldt
river, for a large period in history has been a border between two countries, or
two margraviates. Only becoming part of Antwerp in 1923. The second (2) is
the long-standing position of the polder as a blue defence line in the military
system of Antwerp, with a potential submersion through inundation always
looming over its head. The third (3) is perhaps the influence of all the failed
plans in the area, and the influence of the Second World War. Starting in the
19th century with Ville Marie-Louise and Napoleon, and continuing in the
20th century with the international design competition. The forth (4) reason,
might be the clean slate start (the tabula rasa) that spurred the development of
present day Linkeroever. It never got the chance to develop like its neighbouring
villages/districts, the fort and defensive constructions were demolished and
buried underneath sand from the Scheldt.
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