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1600 +1000

1600 +1000

The future of the KU Leuven campus in Sint-Katelijne Waver (B)

Reflecting Urban Cultures
Semester 3, Ghent, English spoken.
Master of Architecture engagement Urban Cultures, Campus Sint Lucas
Brussels
Academic year 2024 2025
Tutor: Erik Van Daele

Image: MVRDV Expo pavilion Hanover 2000 representing the artificial (bio) landscapes of Holland
Do check the current state.. Currently the project is in ruins, taken over by natural processes. Source unknown

In the studio we examen how artificial and natural processes can be combined in one build form in dialogue with its surrounding context.

Design research

In the frame of the celebration of 600 years of KUL (600 Ha KUL) we explore by design the future of a KU Leuven campus in a suburban area: Sint Katelijne Waver. Last academic year we explored the influence and impact of knowledge centres in Ghent. Next to urban contexts (Ghent) peripheral areas become more attractive to produce knowledge. Geel has recently completed a large-scale project to house students, the campus in Kortrijk is growing and by 2030 Sint Katelijne expects to receive 1000 extra students. Currently the St Katelijne campus has 1600 students so 1000 extra students would almost double the number of students.
The campus currently offers a program of industrial sciences. Will that change?
The current buildings are outdated. Can we replace them? How can we densify the campus to host 1000 extra students? Knowing that the campus is in a valuable and fragile ecological area.
Do we need to host these students? Knowing that most students reside in Mechelen (at 10 minutes by bike) or Leuven (by train).
All information will be provided by the KUL campus in Sint Katelijne. A RUP ( a spatial execution plan) has been made but is very general and abstract giving us the possibility to experiment on the future of the campus.

Method

The studio works as one research lab.
The studio works in parallel with the studio of Roeland Smits, with whom we share moments of discussion, but we keep our own focus in the studio.
We share the analysis of the context and program with the studio of Roeland.
We limit the analysis to 3-4 weeks to come to design strategies as soon as possible.

Timing and output

  • The timing depends on the focus the students make: architecture, urban design, urbanism. All three disciplines will be addressed in the individual projects though the focus will differ.
    • Analysis: exploring the site by walking and interviewing, constructing a group model on 1/500 (4 weeks in group)
    • Concept and strategy: imagining the impact of 1000 extra students in abstract diagram and models. We explore different scenario’s and synthesise them in a best option to be explored
    • Draft: a draft of the best option translated in a preliminary design. In all designs the buildings are not just objects. The dialogue between building and the surrounding context (spatial, ecological, social-economic) is essential
    • Mid-review in November.
    • Refine and detail: after the mid-review we elaborate the design strategy
    • Three weeks before the final review: constructing a story board and a bullet structure of the presentation. Refine all drawings and models

This timing is quite general as it really depends on the choices the students make and on the evolution of the projects.

Output

Posters on A0 With detailed drawings showing the interaction and dialogue between buildings and context (see above)

  • Reading: How did you read the qualities and characteristics of the site? And how did you use these readings in developing a design strategy?
  • Position: How do you position yourself in addressing the themes revealed in the readings (= strategy)
  • Intervention: a detailed graphic exploration of the architectural- urban-landscape project. Here the continuous ground floor will demonstrate the relation between the interior of the buildings and the surrounding open spaces.
  • Perspective: make one detailed perspective showing the qualities and characteristics of the project.

This list is a guiding line. The exact out-put depends on the project. The list is limited but the drawings should be detailed.

Models
Do present all the models made to come to the final result.

Logbook
bundling the design process in all the sketches and reflections made in the design process.