Alderman Dewandeleer lays symbolic first stone of new residential neighbourhood WOL U
02/12/2025
In Woluwedal, Alderman for Spatial Planning and Housing Bart Dewandeleer laid the symbolic first stone of the new WOL U residential neighbourhood this morning. The site of the former Woluwe Office Garden office complex will soon be home to 199 families and single people. And all this in the middle of greenery, on the banks of the River Woluwe. If all goes well, the first residents will move in at the end of 2027.
The construction site in Zaventem has been buzzing with activity for some time now. Over the past few months, a gigantic 32,000 m² office complex has been meticulously demolished. The basement with its large car park will be retained and adapted to modern requirements. To mark the start of the actual construction of WOL U, project developer ION and contractor STRABAG Belgium invited alderman Bart Dewandeleer to visit the site this morning, where he symbolically laid the first stone of the new residential neighbourhood.
We are ready to make this special residential project a success. The project comprises seven modern and sustainable buildings, ranging from four to five storeys in height, which blend into the green landscape thanks to their small-scale character. Together, they offer space for 199 apartments, with one to four bedrooms, supplemented by space for childcare, liberal professions and a commercial space. This project requires not only technical expertise, but also very precise planning. Thanks to the thorough preparation of our calculation, purchasing, BIM and project teams, we can now translate those plans into craftsmanship on site.
Goodbye concrete, welcome nature
What makes WOL U special is that more than half of the site will be softened. According to the design by POLO, BOB361 Architects, A1AR and Erik Dhondt Landscape Architects, a lot of concrete will make way for a park landscape covering no less than 22,000 square metres, featuring native plants, flowers and trees. The park landscape will thus create a natural transition to the nearby countryside.
The aim is to increase the visibility and accessibility of the Woluwe once again. A few steps will soon make it possible to reach the riverbank and enjoy the peace and quiet. This is a cautious exercise that we are currently undertaking in collaboration with the Flemish Environment Agency and landscape architect Erik Dhont. By carefully designing the surroundings, we are turning this new neighbourhood into a high-quality living environment.
The municipal council is pleased that a vacant and neglected commercial building is being converted into a modern residential building. Unlike a traditional conversion, the developer, architects and construction team are going a step further and paying extra attention to the surrounding area. This project is a textbook example of how to make room for much-needed, high-quality and sustainable housing as well as for the local ecosystem. The fact that it also restores some of the rural character of Woluwedal is an added bonus.
Flemish investors and local residents
The fact that the approach is appreciated is also evident from the considerable interest in the new project. The flats in three buildings are already virtually sold out, and the flats in the four other buildings will be put on the market this week. It is striking that, in addition to considerable interest from Zaventem and the surrounding area, there are also many investors from West and East Flanders who will be renting out the flats.
High-quality homes with well-equipped kitchens, modern bathrooms and living spaces are not only high on the wish list of families in the Brussels area, but also of highly educated expats and their employers. They are an interesting target group for tenants, given the large number of international companies and institutions in the immediate vicinity.
