PAKT Antwerp

PAKT is a circular neighbourhood project developed in the Antwerp Green Quarter (BE) in 2017. Soon after its finalisation, this project became a hotspot for circular entrepreneurs, start-ups and urban horticulturalists. The project is straightforward but very compelling. It involves the redevelopment of large old warehouses and related residential buildings. The neighbourhood design transformed the former warehouses into a contemporary, dynamic, attractive place. PAKT was initiated by two brothers, Ismail and Yusuf Yaman and Stefan Boston, in 2006. In love with the derelict warehouses hidden in the Antwerp city centre (nowadays “Groen Kwartier”), they decided to transform the location into a meeting point for artists and musicians, resulting in a colourful and lively atmosphere. Inspired by circular projects in Europe and the USA, they developed projects combining work with sports, leisure and urban farming. In less than ten years, 25 businesses established themselves on the new PAKT site. Chefs, brewers, baristas, coffee roasters, sports enthusiasts and circular initiatives found their way to the site. In 2016, agro-biotechnologist Bram Stessel and community expert Adje Van Oekelen were hired to design a unique 1800 m2 urban circular agriculture project on the warehouse rooftops. In 2017, PAKT became a circular community garden and started to grow vegetables and herbs on the rooftops and sell local products in Antwerp, using PAKT as its base. In 2019, Bram and Adje joined forces with landscape architect Damien Derouaux to set up similar sustainable projects in various cities.