Presented at the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, the Capping of the Antwerp Ring is a groundbreaking urban transformation project that redefines Antwerp’s infrastructure. As a city-wide initiative, the project envisions the capping of an existing highway to reclaim public space, improve air quality and establish multimodal transport networks. Through extensive co-creation, the design reconciles competing urban demands, integrating mobility, ecology and neighborhood development.

Within the "It’s About Time" biennale theme, the project underscores the urgency of long-term spatial transition. It challenges conventional infrastructure-led urbanism, shifting focus toward sustainable, future-proof city-making. Rather than envisioning an abstract future, the Capping of the Ring is a radical yet realizable project that exemplifies how cities can act as responsible ancestors for generations to come.

De Grote Verbinding visualizes the transformation of Antwerp’s Ring Road through an evolving timeline and architectural models. The timeline traces the multi-generational strategy to transition the highway into a network of parks and public spaces, while highlighting the intricate co-creation process shaping its development.

At the heart of the exhibition, a circular display of models forms a clock, symbolizing the project’s phased evolution. Each Ring Park is shown in three iterations, revealing how stakeholder collaboration has continuously refined its vision over time.