The old city wall of Leuven has largely disappeared and is no longer visible in the streets of the city. This project aims to make the city walls visible in the public space, and to put it on the mental map of residents and visitors of Leuven. The city wall is not restored literally, but marked within the public space by a family of three elements. The elements tell about the history and location of the wall in the city of Leuven and give an idea of the size, continuity and the strategic importance for Leuven.
OTO will give explicit attention to the old city gates, which will be marked by two bronze strips in the streets. The 11 gates together will give a sense of the location of the city wall, whenever residents or visitors enter or leave the city. The original wall was 1.70 m wide, this size is framed by two bronze strips of both 10 cm width on the outside. The two strips run from facade to facade and cut through all the existing pavement. The names of the ports are cut out from the bronze lines. At night the eleven gates will come alive by light shining through the lines. The elements have a monumental yet innovative appearance. The eleven city gates of Leuven will become part of a walking route and mark the entrances of the city as they did in the past. Beside the gates, there is an element for marking a stroll along the city walls and a seating element with information about the origin and location of the wall.