31
TRANSFO CLIMBING
ZwevegemClimbing in Industrial Heritage
Along the former Transfo site in Zwevegem—an iconic piece of industrial heritage that once served as a fossil-fuel-fired power plant—Markland Architects created a new climbing gym, a cafeteria, and a covered outdoor bouldering area. The site is being repurposed into a vibrant socio-cultural hub where sports, recreation, and social interaction come together, without losing sight of its valuable industrial past.
Project information
| Project |
Project
Transfo Climbing Zwevegem |
|---|---|
| Location |
Location
Transfostraat 30, 8550 ZWEVEGEM |
| Client |
Client
Demuynck BVBA |
| Architect |
Architect
Markland (member of Link Lab) |
| Structural Engineering, EPB, Veico |
Structural Engineering, EPB, Veico
REBAR (MVE) - United Experts Group |
| Program |
Program Climbing gym with a cafeteria and an outdoor bouldering area |
| Site area |
Site area
5,852 m² |
| Land acquisition |
Land acquisition
934 m² |
| Status |
Status
Completion: 2025 |
Integration into the Transfo Site
The design builds upon the existing heritage elements: the walled transformer park and the former transformer building serve as tangible reminders of the site’s industrial history. The positioning of the new structures is closely tied to these elements and to the above- and underground high-voltage power lines that run across the site. For example, the cafeteria, together with the covered bouldering area, lies entirely within the contours of the heritage wall and makes use of the original entrance to the transformer park, while the climbing gym is positioned outside the heritage wall to ensure safety and functionality. The transformer building itself is being repurposed as a multipurpose space with workshops and offices, in accordance with the master plan for the Transfo site.
Access to the site is via the historic gate on the northeast side, after which visitors enter the reception plaza and the cafeteria. This low-rise structure houses a bar, kitchen, restrooms, and storage, and serves as an intimate link between the various building sections. The cafeteria’s roof is designed as an intensive green roof, visible from the surrounding buildings, and reinforces the project’s commitment to sustainability. The facades are transparent and light, featuring slender concrete-gray window frames, allowing the interior and exterior to blend seamlessly.
The covered outdoor bouldering area, with a trapezoidal steel structure, offers a safe and weather-resistant space for recreational climbing. Here, too, the roof is designed as a green roof, so that the visible roof surface is experienced as a full-fledged “fifth facade.” Between the climbing gym and the transformer building lies a multipurpose outdoor space for sports and recreation, ranging from yoga to slacklining and small events. Technical facilities, parking spaces, and bicycle parking are discreetly concealed on the west side behind a wall with a walking path, which simultaneously visually connects the climbing hall to the transformer building.
The Climbing Hall as the Central Volume
The heart of the project is the climbing hall, an elongated hexagonal volume defined by the route of the high-voltage power lines. With a height of 17.5 meters, the hall offers space for more than 60 climbing routes, a speed wall, and an artificial rock face. Changing rooms are located beneath the mezzanine, while an additional 12-meter climbing wall is situated above it. The north facade, featuring a vertical glass section and the Transfo Climbing logo, provides natural light and visual recognition. The functional side of the facade includes openings for storage, ventilation, and access via aerial work platforms.
Architecture and Materials
Material selection plays a key role in the design: concrete panels, concrete-gray aluminum roof edges, white-painted steel structures, and transparent facade elements create a sober and sustainable palette that respects the industrial context while imparting a contemporary look. The design of the outdoor space aligns with the site’s overall vision: paving is minimized, biodiversity is enhanced, and paved areas are executed using a uniform material palette.
