A dream that became reality

We owe the idea for the city’s design largely to largely Michel Woitrin, general trustee of UCL, and Professor Raymond Lemaire, specialist in ancient cities. 

They wanted a site that respected the densely inhabited landscape, where urban functions mix and where the city itself promotes meetings and dialogue between students and non-students.  

The 9 Commandments

To guide the construction of the city, overall development plan and city-planning principals were established.  Two fundamental objectives were defined : university functionality and the quality of urban life. 
These two objectives were broken down in 9 major commandments:

• A custom-made city
• A pedestrian city (Diameter of the city is less than 2.5 km)
• Urban center with human face
• Urban atmosphere, with a town center, from the beginning
• The site is the city matrix
• A well-defined entity in the landscape
• The university is the engine of the city
• The university is integrated in the city
• Flexible design

A special town center

The heart of the city is build on a 7-hectare and 39-cm thick concrete slab.  It is on this concret slab, wich covers public roads, parking lots and the train station, that the buildings were constructed.  All of the normal functions of a city can be found here: shops, administrative departments, cultural activities... everything mixes within the resident functions and with university activities. 

A sustainable design

The goal to preserve green spaces and respect the environment influenced the overall design of Louvain-la-Neuve.  Examples, among others: respect of the landscape, deterring car use, a double draining network separating rain water from used water, use of natural gas for heating, cogeneration…

Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve made sustainable development its true motto.  To create all aspects of the region (mobility, education, and health, for example) while taking into consideration energy, water, green spaces, sports and culture, the city implements projects that are compatible with sustainable development and environment preservation. 

Collective management

This precious heritage and its preservation are strictly linked to the participative management of all of the players in the region.  Residents, students, institutions and the university, enlivened by a collective and pioneer spirit, gave birth to the culture of the community decision, a shocking success and a model for sustainable development.