Louvain-la-Neuve,Belgium, from campus to new town

Summary Louvain-la-Neuve, the sole Belgian New Town in three centuries, is located about thirty kilometers southwards of Brussels. In its first stage it had been established for welcoming most of the faculties of the Catholic University of Louvain (C. U. L.), which transferred from the original location in Louvain. The estate acquired by the C. U. L. mainly covers an agricultural area of 900 hectares, partly divided into 338 hectares for the future urbanized perimeter, 180 hectares for a public forest, and 163 hectares for a scientific park, designed for private research and development activities in connection with academic laboratories.The first part of the city center is almost completed and is located in the dale of the Malaise, on a substructure with underground parking and a railway station. Four neighbourhood units have been planned on the top of the slopes; the first two are already nearly finished and a third is under way. The principle of segregation of automobile and pedestrian traffic and its advanced architectural style constitute the main features.The active population of Louvain-la-Neuve now reaches about 12,000 (two-thirds are the students of the C. U. L.), and the residential population numbers more than 6,000 inhabitants (three-quarters are students and their families). The age structure is very young, due to the high proportion of students.Commuting to Louvain-la-Neuve is facilitated by excellent road and public transportation connections. As time goes by, it is anticipated that commuting will diminish. Moreover, a phenomenon of external commuting is developing. The attractive sphere and environment, the pedestrian areas and the emphyteotic system are the key features of the future residential development for persons neither professionally linked to the C. U. L. nor to the New Town.When the student transference is completed in 1979, the stage of real diversification of activities and functions will begin. About 20,000 inhabitants are scheduled for location by 1985 and a maximum of 50,000 by the end of the century. At that time, Louvain-la-Neuve together with its neighbours, Wavre and Ottignies, will form an urban tripole on a regional level, thereby strengthening the urban framework of the Walloon Brabant.