After the cigar-factory ‘Vander Elst’ moved out of downtown Leuven, an industrial site became vacant. A perfect opportunity to turn the terrain that had been closed for many years, into a pleasant spot and give it back to the city.

Old existing factory buildings have been turned into offices, lofts, gardens and some restaurant/cafes. By making a passage through the complex, the terrain is now available to the public as well. Parking space can be found underground, thus creating maximum space for a green ambiance.

Seven patio gardens
The seven patio gardens are linked with each other and each garden has its own identity, which is being enhanced by using just a few varieties per garden. The largest central garden is a roof garden situated on top of a parking garage. Ultra-light material derived as a rest product from glass production is used to minimize the weight. The planting material is planted into a substrate based on lava.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Quercus x bimondorum ‘Crimson Spire’, Populus tremula erecta, Nothofagus antarctica, Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’,
Tetradium daniellii, Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’, Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’, Ginkgo biloba