RE-NATU-RING a Neighborhood Street
A case study of Constantin Meunierstraat in Leuven, Belgium.

This case study explores how a conventional residential street was reimagined through depaving, shared space, biodiversity, and community participation to create a healthier place for people and nature.

Greening plan

BEFORE

AFTER

This street greening case study shows how an ordinary residential street can become a more climate-resilient, livable public space by layering multiple design strategies within the same street corridor.

Techniques used include:

  • Depaving to remove unnecessary asphalt and create space for planting.

  • Street trees and layered planting to reduce heat and increase biodiversity.

  • Rain gardens / planted areas to capture and infiltrate stormwater.

  • Shared-space design to reduce the separation between cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and green space.

  • Horizontal deflections / chicanes to slow traffic naturally.

  • Remove curbs to increase shared space for multipurpose use.

  • Reused materials for planters, benches, and community structures.

  • Community gathering spaces such as benches and a shade structure.

  • Accessible green pockets that turn leftover street space into places to pause, meet, and play.