Batta Esplanade

Project: Batta Esplanade
Architect: UMAN architect

Programme: Aménagement urbain de l’avenue de Batta, en ce compris le traitement du quai et le cheminement vers le téléphérique de Huy.

About: This project is part of a broader urban redevelopment strategy aimed at revitalizing the area between Rue d’Amérique and the Roi Baudouin Bridge, particularly the section facing the Batta shopping center and the banks of the Meuse.

Previously dedicated to traffic and parking, the area concerned by the project suffered from a lack of enhancement, especially in terms of landscape quality and pedestrian experience.

Our main objective was therefore to transform this zone into a multifunctional public space, landscaped and conducive to soft mobility, while strengthening the commercial and tourist appeal of the neighborhood.

To achieve this, we created a large raised esplanade at the level of the pedestrian entrance to the shopping center, serving both as a welcoming gathering space for everyday relaxation and as a venue for various events. This esplanade now provides a ground-level outdoor area for HoReCa activities and establishes a stronger connection between the shopping center and the Meuse riverbanks.

We also prioritized a design that enhances the existing green spaces and improves the integration of pedestrian and cycling routes. Urban furniture, made of concrete in an approach that is both functional and aesthetic, was also incorporated.

Finally, we constructed a sculptural footbridge over the existing roadway to prevent fragmentation of the esplanade and to reinforce the continuity of soft mobility routes.

This project was awarded First Prize in the category “Engineering Structure or Architectural Space” at the Grand Prix d’Architecture de Wallonie 2025.