The master plan for the reconversion of this historic site in the city centre on a long, narrow site between a remnant of the medieval city wall and a branch of the river Dijle includes a 45m-high and 14-storey residential tower connected to 9 single-family houses and a 4-storey apartment buildin .

Below the new residences will be a two-storey underground car park, good for a total of 48 parking spaces, The entire construction project provides a total of 155 bicycle parking spaces for residents.

ir. arch. Jolien Van Bever stands proudly gleaming at the completion of the tower

The project unites these three different typologies into one through a coherent architectural language defined by the size of a residential unit and the consistent use of light-coloured brick cladding and concrete elements.

David Chipperfield Architects did particular research on the right type of brick to connect with the buildings of the inner city and with the medieval rampart wall.

Some of our technical designers' work

It is an exciting moment to see the residential tower reach its full height and take its place in the Leuven skyline. Given its central location within the master plan, Duke I will become a symbol of this new district. While the building responds to the park, the townhouses define a new street parallel to the historical city wall. Together, these two elements form a coherent whole that will help to open up the site.

David Chipperfield Architects