Studentenvilla t' Onzent

Protected De Coene Villa with student rooms in Kortrijk

The context

Why choose Studentenvilla t' Onzent?

The listed Villa De Coene, dating from 1918, is being transformed into a student residence in the Overleie district of Kortrijk. This three-façade villa, designed by Jozef De Coene, features cottage style architecture and art nouveau details. The redevelopment responds to the growing demand for high-quality student housing in Kortrijk. The building forms part of the broader Overlys development, which also includes homes and a day centre for adults with disabilities. Its location on Kollegestraat offers students a place to live close to the city centre and the River Leie.

Our answer

How is the heritage character of Villa De Coene preserved?

The restoration preserves the architectural character of the listed three-façade villa. Within the existing building, student rooms are created with modern amenities. A communal living area supports the daily life of the residence. The spacious bicycle storage offers residents a practical solution for getting around the city. The private green courtyard garden provides a peaceful outdoor space for the student housing.

Together with

Who is involved in Studentenvilla t' Onzent?

ION is overseeing the restoration and repurposing of Villa De Coene into student housing. Link Lab Architecture and Stay Studio are responsible for the architectural design of the renovation. Their concept incorporates rooms within the original building from 1918. Cobe is also involved as a project partner in the repurposing. Throughout the interventions, the original design with its cottage and art nouveau elements is preserved.

Studentenvilla t' Onzent

Building on history, investing in the future

Welcome to Meyboom, a truly unique student residence in the heart of Brussels.
After more than a decade standing empty, the former headquarters of the Société Générale des Minérais enters a new chapter. Through the partnership between ION and Belfius Immo, this historic building is being transformed into a sustainable student residence offering 15 years of guaranteed rent via UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.

Brussels is now home to over 137,000 students, but with a shortage of student rooms exceeding 10,000 and rising each year. Meyboom delivers a forward-looking response to this growing demand: modern rooms and studios in a beautifully restored building, full ownership and guaranteed income from day one.

Visit the project website

Info & contact

Location

Diksmuidekaai - 8500 Kortrijk

Developed by

ION

Development model

Own initiative

Architect

Link Lab, Stay Studio

Status

Completed

Units

15

GFA

570 m²

Site

773 m²

Asset class

Student housing

Prime location

In the heart of Brussels’ pentagon, surrounded by universities, shops and culture. UCLouvain Saint-Louis is just 250 metres away, with KU Leuven, Odisee and LUCA close by. Everything students need—study, relaxation and enjoyment—right at their fingertips.

Let to UCLouvain

The entire building is leased to UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels for 15 years. Investors benefit from guaranteed, indexed rental income from day one. Professional management ensures returns with complete peace of mind.

Historic building

A historic property dating from 1898, carefully restored with respect for its original character. The authentic façades and high ceilings remain, while the interior is completely renewed. This is how Brussels history finds a sustainable future.

A future-focused renovation project in the heart of Brussels

Meyboom repurposes an elegant building from 1898 on Zandstraat into a modern student residence with 220 units. The site offers student rooms ranging from 18 to 26 m² and studios between 25 and 47 m², all with private bathrooms and premium finishes.

The residence features 775 m² of communal spaces, including kitchens, study rooms and lounges, complemented by a green inner garden and a rooftop terrace with views across Brussels.

Thanks to the design by LOW Architecten, the building’s historic character is preserved while fully meeting today’s standards of comfort, energy efficiency and sustainability. Meyboom blends history with contemporary functionality — a place where students can live, study and connect in an inspiring environment.

The building on the corner of Zandstraat and Broekstraat exudes history. The stately facades are being carefully restored, while inside there is space for light, high-ceilinged rooms with plenty of daylight and contemporary comfort. A covered atrium makes way for an open courtyard garden – a green lung in the middle of the city.

Here, the past and the future meet: students live, study, and thrive in an inspiring environment that brings history and the future together.

Meyboom in figures

219 student rooms and 1 concierge’s apartment
Student rooms from 18 – 26 m²
Studios from 25 – 47 m²
All rooms and studios have private bathroom facilities

775 m² of communal spaces
Green inner garden and rooftop terrace with views over Brussels
Secure bicycle storage and full-time concierge for maintenance

A worry-free investment with guaranteed stability

Meyboom is the result of a sustainable partnership between ION, Belfius Immo and UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles. The project demonstrates how history, urban development and higher education can reinforce one another. By focusing on long-term letting and professional management, it creates a model that benefits both the city and its students.

Letting with confidence

The entire building is leased for fifteen years to UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles, a university with over 4,500 students and part of the KU Leuven network. This partnership not only offers continuity for the university, but also ensures that the building is used sustainably by the target group it was designed for. The collaboration highlights the shared ambition to create high-quality student housing in the heart of Brussels.

Professional and sustainable management

Meyboom is managed with the same care and expertise that ION and Belfius Immo bring to every project. All operational and administrative tasks are centralised, ensuring the building is run efficiently, transparently and sustainably. In this way, Meyboom remains a benchmark of collaboration, where quality, reliability and social value go hand in hand.

Once a showcase of industrial grandeur, this site is now reborn as a modern student residence. The imposing façades are preserved, but behind these historic walls lies a contemporary, sustainable living concept. Old structures give way to light, openness and connection. The history remains visible, while the building evolves to meet the needs of a new generation. Meyboom unites past and future in a single story of renewal and respect.

A partnership built on trust and a shared vision

The redevelopment of Meyboom is the result of a strong partnership between ION and Belfius Immo. Both partners share the same conviction: that true urban renewal is only sustainable when it respects the past and creates a future for people. With Meyboom, they are combining their expertise to give a historic building a new social purpose in the heart of Brussels.

ION contributes its experience in property development, architectural quality and sustainable construction, with an eye for detail and functionality.

Belfius Immo reinforces this with years of expertise in social real estate and financial structuring, ensuring that the project is not only aesthetically and technically strong, but also economically robust. Together, they demonstrate how public-private partnership can lead to projects that generate economic, social and cultural value.

This joint approach results in an innovative residential concept that connects heritage with education, sustainability and urban liveability. Meyboom is more than a renovation project: it is an example of how complementary partners are shaping the city of tomorrow, with respect for the past and confidence in what lies ahead.