La Vignette
The northern section of the inner city close to the Penitentienenstraat is a typical West-European city quarter. During the 19th and 20th century it flourished thanks to multiple industrial activities but towards the end of the last century it was engulfed in a downward spiral together with the industry.
By the year 2004 the sad industrial decline had already been extensively replaced with all kinds of dwelling places. The latter offer all income categories the opportunity of living in this outstanding location (peaceful, at walking distance from the city centre and station and a five minute drive from the motorway).
The revaluation operation was launched in 1997. The La Vignette project, offering 22 social owner-occupied properties, was built on previously undeveloped ground. The architects (architectural firm WIT, Outgaerden) opted for a modern and contemporary style: austere volumes, dark stone, wooden façade elements and properly dimensioned window arrangements. They drew a new street right between the Penitentienenstraat and the Fonteinstraat.
Behind La Vignette there is a local park skirted by newly built private terraced houses along the Penitentienenstraat.
A little further stands the red housing project "De Leerlooierij" (WVA, Leuven) where a factory building used to stand. Along the pedestrian inner city there are 32 modern owner-occupied houses.
The area between the Fonteinstraat and the Penitentienenstraat used to be a storage place for empty beer crates. Today it is a local park that provides a green breathing space for the neighbourhood. Footpaths and cycle paths along the Dijle connect the various green zones in the surroundings.
The neighbourhood is characterised by the renovated Silo tower (an old grain milling house) where in addition to a catering establishment various companies have their offices.
