Dijledonk in Rijmenam, Belgium
Living in a vibrant rural area
The Meurop site has been left empty for quite some time but this iconic location remains closely associated with a wonderful living style. The former industrial activities have left their marks in the soil and some spots are in need of a thorough remediation. We develop this complex in a partnership with COGIVA and in close consultation with all stakeholders (local residents, public authorities). We also pay special attention to the integration of the existing industrial heritage.
Key figures masterplan Dijledonk
Iconic location
The affordable design furniture of Meurop put Rijmenam on the map in the 1950s and 60s.
This factory introduced a new living style to the whole country, long before IKEA and many others came up with the same idea.
Living in a vibrant rural area
Alongside the meandering Dijle, a vibrant residential area awakens.
At this location with a rich history, a former furniture factory makes way for a warm home. The location offers green spots and water and – more important still – space to live life to the fullest, at your own pace. Rippling or flowing? Just drifting with the flow or really diving into it? Living, working and relaxing in the Dijle valley brings something to look forward to every day. Share it with each other, your family, your colleagues and the neighbours. No matter how far your dreams reach, here you have everything at your fingertips.
Temporary activities
Awaiting the final development, the developers are investing in temporary infills that give a taste of Dijledonk's DNA: living, working, experiencing and moving. In collaboration with the creative collective Imaginair, the old furniture factory was refilled with life. Think expo, design, co-working and studios. Imagine film and photo shoots.
Sustainability
Also in Dijledonk, sustainability and circularity are paramount. The ambition is to make the project Nearly Energy Neutral, but ideally we will go for full carbon neutrality. Thus, there will be no room for fossil fuels in Dijledonk. Instead, we will work with a project-specific district heating system managed by an Energy Service Company. As for the buildings, we will retain the solid structure of the main building, which will be the basis for a renovation project towards the original volume of the building, which saw two of its five floors go up in smoke in a fire. From the buildings that will disappear, we aim to recover as many materials as possible to maximise circularity.
Community engagement
With the Dijledonk project, we are not only breathing new life into a forgotten site, we are also seizing the opportunity to bring the local community together. For this, we went a bit further than the traditional information channels, such as a website, social media or newsletters. For instance, we organised "information walks", For instance, we organised "information walks". During these walks, we guided visitors along the most important locations on the site and explained the redevelopment plans. We also published the Dijledonk Newspaper for nearly 5,000 local residents and we paid special attention to the cultural heritage on the site.
Project photographs
Follow this new residential area in the making:
