L’Ecluse, also known as Mariemont – L’Écluse, is the first inhabited project developed by Community Land Trust Bruxelles (CLTB) and is described by the organisation as the first CLT project on the European continent.13 The project is located at Chaussée de Ninove 38 in Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium, and provides 9 homes with one to three bedrooms.13
The project’s importance is not only architectural but also institutional. The homes were originally realised by the Fonds du Logement in 2013, after which CLTB received a subsidy from the Brussels Region in April 2014 to purchase the land, making the dwellings affordable for the families who live there.3 CLTB worked with its partner associations Convivence and La Rue in preparing the project.3 The official technical partners listed by CLTB are Roose Partners Architects as the architectural office and EDK as the construction company, with the Fonds du logement as client.13
L’Ecluse reflects CLTB’s broader model: housing built for lower-income households on land held separately from the homes, helping keep prices accessible over time.5 In this case, the project’s social role is tied to its location near the canal lock in a neighbourhood affected by gentrification.3 According to CLTB, the project was formally celebrated in 2015 when the ribbon was cut.3