On behalf of 3D Real Estate, BESIX is working on the transformation of the former industrial site of the Dossche Mills grain factory in Deinze into a modern residential neighbourhood. In May 2024, the first phase of this mixed-use project - with a total surface area of 32,720 m² - was completed. BESIX was responsible for the construction of three buildings with 106 light-filled high-quality apartments, eight commercial spaces and an underground car park with storerooms and technical areas.
Emmanuel Cornille, Project Manager at BESIX: “We are proud that we have successfully delivered the first phase of the Liv - De Molens project. Our client was able to rely on our extensive experience in delivering high-quality buildings that meet the high ambitions of the project.”
Five-minute city
A new park has been created around the buildings as well. This park forms a green corridor connecting the different buildings of Liv - De Molens with winding walkways with benches and native plants and trees. This green corridor contributes to the intention of Norwegian architect Reiulf Ramstad, who worked together with URA Architects and B2Ai for the design to create a five-minute city: everything you need is located within five minutes!
Challenges
The location of the former grain factory came with some hidden difficulties. During the initial phase, it was discovered that many old foundations were present on the site, remnants of its former functions. This forced the project management team to work differently and find an alternative solution. For example, a part of the CSM walls was substituted by HDI walls to prevent further damage to the drilling installation.
In addition, the River Lys, next to which the project is located, is an integral part of the project. Building right next to a river can be challenging, but the site team has turned it into an ally and used it to transport materials. This logistical adjustment was a win for BESIX in terms of safety and sustainability.
Second phase
In the meantime, BESIX has also been awarded the contract for the second phase of the ambitious real estate project. It includes the construction of three additional buildings of six, seven and three floors respectively and a two-level underground car park. In addition, BESIX is building a 16-storey tower block with 60 apartments as well as commercial spaces on the ground floor. This second phase of Liv - De Molens has a total surface area of 26,764 m² and will create 150 residential units. Work have commenced at the end of 2024 and is expected to last 36 months.
Emmanuel Cornille, project manager at BESIX, said: “We are very much looking forward to building the second phase of this fantastic real estate project as well. So I would like to thank our customer, 3D Real Estate, for their trust in BESIX and its teams.”
