Day 29: Urban Studies in Leuven

August 1

Alas, we arrive in Leuven. A bittersweet moment it is. I say this as on the one hand the city is vibrant and gorgeous, the hostel is wonderful, and the coming week is full of excitement. I’m sure it is too early to make the call, but perhaps our stay in Leuven fits in along the lines of “saving the best for last.” With that said, last implies closure; therefore I call this bittersweet because on the other hand, we know that our stay in Europe is coming to an end. Already, with the week just begun, there is heavy usage of the phrase “last time.” Put into context, “this is the last time we can all go out together” or “this is our last time to splurge on a meal.” Oftentimes, this roughly translates to another common saying among the group: might as well, we’re in Europe!

So, here we are in Leuven, a college town and home of one of the oldest universities in the world and first in the Low Countries. I found it very interesting that the city retained much of its Middle Age forms and designs despite the town being close to leveled twice in the past century. Our guide Professor Pasteure commented on the city being a perfect circle, with radiating boulevards that extend out from the center of the city. In urban design, a road such as that is characterized as an axis to create a sense of relation between two points. In this case Bondgenotenlaan serves as the axis between the train station and the central square. Much of this relativity is created through visual perception, where the eye is drawn down the boulevard to the other end (the term used is node), attracting visitors and citygoers to the various points of interest.

This method of city design first came to prominence in the late 19^th century with the Hausman Plan for Paris, where grand throughways and beltways cut in and around the heart of the previously grid-based city. Unfortunately, the city planners of Leuven are responsible for two fatal mistakes as our guide mentioned: the two large scale projects of the town hall and cathedral were far too ambitious as they nearly bankrupted the city. The once great city of Leuven fell behind Brussels in competition for the head of Belgium.