As part of the reinforcement of the overhead tram wire network in Ghent, necessary for the increase of the public transport capacity provided by De Lijn, additional traction stations were planned on strategic places throughout the city. From an architectural and urban development point of view the object of the commission was to find a balance between fitting the traction station into the existing street view on the one hand and on the other hand creating a discernible, yet modest form language typical of the project.

On several locations in the city a residential function was created above the traction station in order to respect the view of the street wall and to restore or increase the continuity of the inner city functions.
The application of the developed concepts resulted in the perfect integration of the vast electric traction installations in the city, even within the historical city tissue of the Kuip van Gent.

In order to respect the shop function, for instance, the new traction station in Nederkouter got a shop window on the street side, and in the back a historical staircase (under easement by the neighbour) was preserved and integrated in the new building.