Work started on new hiking trails at Limburg DC

Design by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh connects sub-campuses in Diepenbeek

Works have started on the Limburg DC campus in Diepenbeek for the construction of two new footpaths. The design by architect duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh connects the Construction Campus, the Health Campus and the UHasselt bus stop. The paths run elevated through the nature reserve, making the crossing shorter, more comfortable and dry.

"One of our objectives has always been to restore nature and at the same time make the campus more accessible," says Provincial Executive member for Economy and chairman of POM Limburg Tom Vandeput. "With these new paths, we are achieving both: anyone walking from the Construction Campus to the Health Campus will soon take barely three and a half minutes, and that along a route that is a true voyage of discovery through nature."

Architectural lines
The elevated walking structures are made up of 11 segments that are currently being assembled one by one. They meander between the trees and appear to float above the landscape. The steel structure will have a warm finish in light ochre concrete and Corten steel, so that the path blends into its surroundings. Earlier, a test stand was built in which, among other things, drainage and finishing were tried and approved.

Complex realisation
Realising these walking structures is no easy task. Construction takes place in a wooded, swampy area with water features, which limits accessibility and site space. Construction is also precise work: carefully designed segments are assembled on site to create the whimsical shapes and floating impression. Logistics require extra planning and precision, as heavy elements are brought in and placed in a fragile natural area. Together, this makes the project a technical feat in which architecture, engineering and nature management go hand in hand.

More than a path
The connections are more than quick passages. The design lets nature take centre stage while creating places to slow down. The meandering shape preserves existing trees and constantly opens up new views. The grassland will have a lowered zone as a viewing point, the path changes into a jetty at the pond and benches will be installed along the route to relax. In this way, the walking routes become practical connections as well as places to meet and experience.

"The paths are works of art in themselves," Tom Vandeput stresses. "They meander like a lively interplay of lines between trees and water features. This not only gives students and researchers a shortcut, but also a place to take a break and experience the surroundings."

Investment in the future
The technical design comes from D+A consult; implementation is in the hands of De Dender Wegenis en Rioleringswerken (main contractor), CEVAN Metalworks and Van Aken Schoeffundingen. The project, realised with the support of VLAIO, strengthens Limburg DC as a green, accessible campus for education and research.