Super-block

Wisselspoor, Leuven

In 2020, construction will start on 't Wisselspoor at the former railway depot in Leuven, known as the Centrale Werkplaatsen. This development project was commissioned by Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Stadsontwikkeling Leuven (AGSL). The urban residential project was designed by URA architects Yves Malysse and Kiki Verbeeck. Just a short walk from the Leuven railway station, a block of 52 stacked units will be erected on a 2,500 m² plot for residential, communal and public use. The design is completed and the units are currently available for purchase, with construction scheduled to start in late 2020. From this point onwards, the future residents will be involved in the process. Given the large number of units, the project will be carried out with two residential groups.

In their design, the architects incorporated qualities to rival that of a traditional garden home by creating several indoor and outdoor communal areas. The shared outdoor space consists of a central street with wide pavements in front of the houses, a large roof terrace and a central courtyard where children can play safely and neighbours can meet and interact. Inside the building, the common areas are spread out and the residents are in charge of how they will be used. At this point, anything is possible: from a common room, a laundry room and an office space to a library and a guest room. The ground floor, open to the public, houses a day care centre and a conservatory, situated above an underground parking area.