Architecture: The city of Leuven

This is a photographic and very unsystematic report of a stroll through Leuven, right after we hit Louvain-la-Neuve where we shot the Hergé museum. We wanted to visit the "Centrale Werkplaatsen" (Central Workshops) urban development project and the Bakala Academy, and perhaps some more stuff, time permitting. Not that this is even remotely relevant or interesting, but I'm happy to tell you that I followed through with a tasty piña colada, a welcome refreshment at the end of a hot day stumbling up and down the streets of Leuven. Back to business. The first project was the Bakala Academy designed by BOGDAN & VAN BROECK. It made for an unhappy marriage with my 28 mm FF equivalent Coolpix A. The 24 PC-E (a later purchase) would have suited me better, or perhaps even a 21 mm, but we all make do with what we have don't we? In any case, unless taken from some distance away, the perspective of wide-angle shots was a nightmare to correct due to the relative proximity of the open blinds and somewhat more unexpectedly, because of the round shape of the building. In any case, I particularly like the third pic, with the building rising from its vegetal base. Somehow the mesh of the blinds was mirrored in the narrow leafs and slender stem of the trees in the foreground (no doubt, intentially so). On the way to and from the Academy, we encountered the tall building with the prominent facade as shown in the next two pictures. Next up is the staircase connecting the Upper and Lower plaza at the so-called "Kop van Kessel-Lo (TV LineA (Libost/Grontmij - Ney & Partners - a33). Standing a bit further back, with a person ascending, might have given me a better shot, but alas, the dear citizens were not cooperating; the place was unexpectedly empty. The Lower Plaza did lead us to the Centrale Werkplaatsen project by VBMarchitecten and BOGDAN & VAN BROECK. Still not sure if I like the imposing colour of the brickwork though, and I kind of miss the feeling of intimacy a smaller scale and/or more trees or vegetation in general would have provided, but that's probably me and my village mentality talking. Obviously, we had to stop by "De Balk" by Stéphane Beel Architecten too, or, "De Balk van Beel" as it is known colloquially. The 185 meter long building harbours 101 condos, 2 400 m² commercial space and underground parking space for about 400 cars, spread over two floors, and won a BREEAM-award in 2012 and 2013, praising its high sustainability score. What you're seeing is its propped up, smooth underbelly. That last one ... Well, I was drawn to the Alfa Romeo, which sits, design-wise, and I realise this is highly personal, in a class of its own. Then, while lifting the camera to my eye, the juxtaposition of the sleek, modern lines with the classic (though not exactly inelegant) building struck me. And then, when I'd allowed myself a few more seconds drooling over the car, I read the sign by the door: pastorie (parsonage). What caption other than "Visitor from Rome" could be placed under the shot?