Type: Redevelopment, Mixed-Use Residential
Developer: Revive
Owner: Revive
Master Planner: Architecten Achtergael
Designers: POLO, ECTV architects, Areal Architects, Architecten Achtergael, Denc! Studio
Site Size: 14.83 acres (6 ha)
Date Opened: March 1, 2023
Date Completed: December 31, 2026
Buildings: 365,973 square feet (34,000 sq m)
Parking (# of spaces): 350
Open Space: 289,549 square feet (26,900 sq m)
In the Belgian municipality of Edegem, just a 20-minute bike ride from Antwerp’s city center, a brownfield site that once stored camera film has become a biodiverse, sustainable mixed-use residential and commercial neighborhood.
The Minerva automobile company started building a factory in Edegem in the 1920s. During World War II, German forces commandeered the site for aircraft repairs, which led to a deadly bombing raid. Later, AGFA-Gevaert took over the facility to use it for cutting and packing camera film. When operations ceased, the buildings remained unused until 2016, when developer Revive purchased the brownfield site to create a community with homes for 330 families.
Minerve provides an array of housing typologies, from social housing to cohousing options, with plenty of social spaces for gathering, including one residential building with a communal rooftop terrace and another that serves as a community hub with a thrift store, restaurant, and meeting space. More than half of the units are earmarked as affordable for households with intermediate incomes.
A district heating network uses residual heat from the neighboring AGFA-Gevaert factory to supply domestic heating and hot water, which significantly reduces energy costs and fossil fuel dependency. Rainwater from Minerve and the surrounding neighborhoods is collected in a 422,675-gallon (1.6-million-liter) water storage buffer and reused for toilet flushing and garden irrigation, which reduces impact on the area’s sewage system. The water is also redistributed to industrial partners and municipalities. Water-absorbing plant borders and three ravines facilitate soil infiltration.
Construction relied on the extensive use of recycled materials, such as repurposed bricks and recycled wood for decking. The selection of native plants, the integration of nesting opportunities for bats and swifts, and the minimization of wildlife-disrupting lighting enhances the biodiversity of the area. To further reduce environmental impact, Minerve provides residents with communal electric cars and electric cargo bikes, as well as convenient access to public transportation.
Market response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the first phase fully sold out on completion of construction and strong sales continuing in subsequent phases. The development has attracted particular interest for its innovative heat network and extensive green spaces in an urban setting.
Through its comprehensive approach to sustainability and community building, Minerve shows how thoughtful design and innovative technology can turn brownfields into resilient communities while fostering social connection and environmental stewardship.
To learn more about ULI’s Awards for Excellent or to enter your project for consideration:
- The ULI Americas Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in North and South America.
- The ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in the Asia Pacific region.
- The ULI Europe Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Information about how to serve as a juror for the ULI Awards for Excellence:
The ULI Awards Jury Experience: Identifying and Elevating Excellence in Real Estate and Land Use
