At the Oude Dokken near Dampoort, Ciril is developing project Bollard.
What used to be a derelict warehouse is making way for a vibrant living and working space: 14 apartments, 2 offices and 3 commercial units, all neatly embedded in the historic fabric of Kleindokkaai. But how do you create new space without losing touch with the people living next to it? We spoke with Ciril’s project developer Loïc Tybaert and neighbour Rob Breyne.
Smart construction in a complex spot
The neighbouring buildings were structurally connected, which created significant challenges.
“The buildings literally leaned on each other,” Loïc explains. “Especially on Rob’s side, the connection was tighter than expected. We had to proceed with extreme care during demolition and excavation.”
Ciril decided to reduce the number of underground levels from two to one. Together with architects WE-S, structural engineers COBE and contractor BAU, a phased and monitored approach was designed to prevent damage to neighbouring homes.
From objection to involvement
From the very beginning, the team reached out to all neighbours, especially Rob, who was most likely to experience inconvenience.
“Ciril listened, adapted, and treated me with respect,” says Rob. “They didn’t act like a passing developer, but like a neighbour who cares.”
Today, Rob even sends rooftop photos of the construction site for Ciril’s social channels.
Minimising disruption, in practice
Ciril puts strong emphasis on good agreements with the neighbourhood:
- clear communication about planning and site activity;
- limiting noise and dust;
- clean streets and safe public walkways.
“Our site manager is present regularly,” Loïc adds. “We don’t wait for complaints—we try to prevent them.”
Completion: summer 2026
After several years of preparation and 2.5 years of execution, completion is planned for summer 2026. Until then, the open dialogue with the neighbourhood remains a cornerstone.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned,” Loïc concludes, “it’s that listening is never wasted time—it builds trust.”
