Wildebras, together with Kortrijk City, has presented the new youth pavilion at De Wildernis. The building, located on the island in Van Raemdonckpark, replaces the outdated infrastructure and will serve as a permanent base for youth and children's activities. The realization of this project is a joint investment by Flanders and Kortrijk City, contributing a total of 318,000 euros (excl. VAT). Wildebras supplemented this amount with its own funds. The pavilion is hailed as the first circular youth building in Flanders and has the potential to evolve into an open-air youth center.
In 2023, Kortrijk City granted a 27-year lease of the De Wildernis site to Wildebras, ensuring a sustainable future for the Adventure Playground activities. Simultaneously, preparations began for the new youth pavilion, designed to offer space for play, social interaction, and education. For the design and construction, Wildebras collaborated with the partnership ConstructLab, Nester, and Devolder Architecten. The focus was on circular construction, giving much existing material a second life. For instance, parts of the former German pavilion from the Floriade in Almere, Netherlands, were used for the building's foundation. Recycled materials were also extensively used for utilities and the paving around the building, sourced from demolished care facilities on Condédreef and Reepkaai.
“"This unique building is the cherry on top for us after ten years of step-by-step growth as a youth organization. A journey, hand in hand with the city, where we aim to build a broadly supported youth and community program starting this weekend."
Beyond material reuse, participation was central to the construction process. Children, young people, and schools actively contributed to the realization, including painting beams and assisting with the floor.
“"We not only have an incredibly innovative building here, but also a unique operation. For the next 25 years, the island in Van Raemdonckpark will be Wildebras's home base. With De Wildernis, we are opting in Kortrijk for a sustainable, adventurous youth program that takes shape together with children, young people, volunteers, and local residents. This is the first circular youth building in Flanders, built with recycled materials."
Wildebras has been collaborating with Kortrijk City since 2016 on adventurous play in an urban environment, through community-based projects, workshops, and the operation of the Adventure Playground in Van Raemdonckpark. During school holidays, volunteers organize activities on the island, and during the school year, the site is used by schools for outdoor lessons and educational activities.
With the new pavilion, Wildebras looks to the future. The children who participated in the first projects in 2016 are now part of the volunteer team and contribute to planning future steps. The pavilion is intended to grow into an open meeting place for young people. Additionally, Wildebras aims to further green the site and make it climate-resilient. In collaboration with Klimaatfonds Leiedal, the organization is working on a green roof for the building, for which a crowdfunding campaign will be launched this autumn with a doubling of every donation. The former buildings on the island will also make way for new nature, including a water zone and an integrally accessible wild play area for children with physical disabilities.
The total budget for this project amounts to 333,000 euros, funded by Stad Kortrijk (220,000 euros), Flanders (98,000 euros), and Wildebras (15,000 euros).
