Most of the buildings on the VUB campus were put up between 1972 and 1976 by the Ghent architectural firm Baro (standing in Dutch for ‘architectural, regional development and design office’). Aula Q (1976) features a turntable divisible auditorium (TDA) seating between 250 and 1,250 people. This flexibility is made possible by a rotating mechanism and bare concrete walls. Aula Q has a fixed 550-seat auditorium with a fixed central section and two adjacent rooms that can be opened together or separately. They are fitted with a multi-arm crane head carrying concrete slabs. The walls thus rotate freely in an acoustic labyrinth. This system has only been used very rarely.

In the early 1970s, Willy Van Der Meeren designed 352 student residences in the heart of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) campus in Ixelles/Elsene. In his unique and inventive style, Van Der Meeren used a modular precast concrete construction system to create a pleasant and high-quality living environment in which generations of students have undoubtedly experienced some unforgettable times. Today, the former student residences are part of VUB’s valuable architectural heritage, but they also pose special challenges in terms of energy and comfort. To deal with them, two projects have emerged in recent years: the Circular Retrofit Lab and the WVDM Living Lab. These two projects combine issues of scientific research and practical implementation. During the tour, both projects will be explained in detail and placed in the broader context of the history and future of the former student residences.