Livable Villages, Gete Region

Vision for core strengthening, de-paving, and visual quality in the Gete Region

As part of the strategic project “Gete Region productive landscape as a spatial framework for a strong rural region,” we seek to strengthen the area around the Gete Valley. More specifically, this project focuses on enhancing the livability of the villages in the rural area surrounding the Gete, where the historically grown village structure and the predominantly agricultural open space need a future development perspective that pays attention to their place within an economic, ecological, and social transition.

On one hand, the aim is to develop an integrated vision by creating a supra-local visual quality plan for the valley. Central to this vision is that a network of slow roads forms the backbone of a resilient rural region or productive valley area. The intertwining of landscape qualities, water challenges, and landscape design can help us offer an alternative where short supply chains and the sustainability of economic activities can find their place.

On the other hand, it is examined whether on-site implementations or test cases can be initiated to support and enrich the vision development. This is done through a thorough analysis and mapping of challenges for villages in the six municipalities around the valley: Landen, Linter, Zoutleeuw, Geetbets, Tienen, and Hoegaarden. The goal is to develop structural visions and project definitions for future development, addressing a central question: How can we ensure that the villages in the Gete Region remain strong and livable? Where is densification appropriate? And in what ways can qualitative densification be achieved?