Vaartkom Urban redevelopment Leuven (Belgium)

The redevelopment project Vaartkom Leuven is a large-scale urban renewal project that transformed a 30 ha former industrial area into a mixed urban high density area. Inside there is room for housing (about 2,275 units ), trade (about 60,000 m²) , offices (100,000 m² ), culture and recreation ( 50,000 m² ). Due to its strategic location near the railway station and the city center, the Vaartkom has the potential to become a multi-functional urban development area. The combination of water, green spaces and valuable heritage provides a unique context for this redevelopment.

The redevelopment is guided by several plans: the masterplan public space (Settings - okra - ARA) , four approved implementation plans (Municipality of Leuven) and urban design plans (BUUR, XDGA and Stephane Beel Architects).

Joris Scheers’ first involvement in the redevelopment of the Vaartkom goes back to 1986, when he was asked by KULeuven’s urban planning institute (ISRO) to design and realize a spatial and social- economic analysis of the area. Later on, as member and president of the Independent Municipal Advisory Council on Spatial Planning, he advised the different redevelopment plans (2002-2012). Finally he was member of the public space design jury for the area (2009).