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Issue 23

30 April 2013

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De bijzondere vomrentaal van een bijzondere architect: René van Zuuk

ilm made by Dr Robert L. Philippart,

1977. Luxembourg: Boulevard Royal 19th

century villas, Avenue Emile Reuter, Théâtre

de la ville: www.histoireurbaine.eu.

Luxembourg: The crown jewel of Europe

“Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sin”

“We want to remain who we are”

“Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sin” runs an inscription in Luxembourg’s Old City.

Pride in its language, its culture and its status

is the basis on which Luxembourg defines its

national identity. Luxembourg is one of the

smallest, independent states of Europe.

Most importantly known for its strong steel-

and iron industry. Since the 1960s it has

become one of the most important internatio-

nal financial platforms and later one of the

driving forces behind European integration.

Luxembourgers retain a positive attitude

towards Europe as reflected in the popular

slogan “We are Europeans, but we still be-

long to Luxembourg.” Nevertheless, the

old conservative village mentality is

evident. The identity backlash that has

been observed in other European coun-

tries, is a possibility

in Luxembourg too,

especially in the dis-

advantaged social

classes. First and

foremost Luxem-

bourg wants to stay

Luxembourg.

he Gëlle Fra (The

Golden Lady), Monu-

ment of Remembrance in

Luxembourg City dedi-

cated to the thousands of

Luxembourgish soldiers

who volunteered for serv-

ice during World War I.

The sculptor of the bronze

figure was Claus Cito.

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© Éditions Schortgen, Luxembourg

© Éditions Schortgen

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Architecture Luxembourg The first guide to contemporary

architecture in Luxembourg

offers eight itineraries through

the Grand Duchy and includes

118 outstanding architectural

projects for you to disover.

The colour code and pictograms

show you the way along the sug-

gested tours. The sites of the

buildings on each itinerary are

shown on a map.

A brief description contains

relevant information about the

architecture: client, architect,

consultant, year of construction

and address with GPS coordi-

nates. The locations described

represent the stages of each

tour and invite you to discover

numerous tourist attractions.

For further information about

“architectour” in Luxembourg

visit: www.architectour.lu.

For furter information about

architecture and engineering

in Luxembourg please visit:

www.oai.lu - www.fondarch.lu

www.aliai.lu

Architectural journals:

www.revue-technique.lu

www.archiduc.lu

www.adato.lu

r. Robert Philippart (www.histoireurbaine.eu) is historian and research fellow at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve at

the Institute of Analyses of Change in Contemporary and Historical Sciences. His activities also concern national tourist promotion of Luxembourg. ”The history of the city is at the basis of today’s quality of life,” says Philippart. “The renewal and reinvention of the city with regard to its historical tradition are the sources of prosperity and well- being.” Philippart emphasises the fact that in the 19th century Luxem-bourg had to build up a nation as a consequence of the Treaty of

Photo by: Pit Ludwig of London (1839), creating Luxembourg as an independent State and to convert in 1867 the ancient fortress of Luxembourg into an open town. In both cases Luxembourg had to invent a new identity. It succeeded by choosing for an open society, economically and culturally, com-bining the patterns of Roman and Germanic architecture and economic development. “That formed the basis of the beginning of Luxembourgian architecture. This open-minded mentality of Luxembourg is very important. It is crucial that Luxembourg developed from an ancient Belgian province to an independent state and from a fortified city to an open city. These are two major changes of identity that prepared the country for its future role as cradle of the current European Union and a cosmopolitan society.”

“Luxembourg, the driving force behind the creation of modern Europe”

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Bob Strotz - founder/partner of hsa-heisbourg strotz architectes

President of the OAI - Ordre des Architectes et des Ingénieurs-Conseils

The responsability of architects and engineers uality features high on the agenda of Bob Strotz, the President of

the Ordre des Architectes et des Ingénieurs-Conseils. The ambi-

tious president emphasises: “Architects and consultants seek to im-

prove both the quality of life of the project users and the quality of

the built environment. We must make society aware that the quality

of our built environment is important as a means of restoring confi-

dence in the future and the economy in order to overcome the crisis.

Nowadays, projects embody extremely sophisticated designs and

must go through complicated procedures to ensure compliance with

regulations, requirements and checks, carried out by stakeholders

from all areas, which moreover are sometimes contradictory.”

Bob Strotz emphasises that the freedom, innovation and intellect of

architects and cunsultants used to be features sought after by

decision makers, contractors and citizens, and the result of their

work was presented with pride.”

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NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR LUXEMBOURG-FETSCHENHOF

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SCOUTS AND GUIDES (FNEL)

he FNEL had premises in rue Holle-rich in the city of Luxembourg as

well as other rented places. The exis-ting premises were no longer appropri-ate in view of the future management requirements of the FNEL. The aim was to create a unique space for the infrastructure and vehicles as well as to provide a meeting room of adequate size. hsa-heisbourg strotz architectes have designed new headquarters for the Federation with functional units. The new home for the FNEL was built in 2012 in Luxembourg-Fetschenhof.

For more information: www.fnel.lu

Design by hsa-heisbourg strotz architectes

n 2012 the central police station of the east of Luxembourg in Grevenmacher

designed by hsa-heisbourg strotz architec-tes together with FlosundK architekten, was realized. The photo right shows the Moselle valley, where the new police office proudly dominates. The building is a new entrance for the city of Grevenmacher. The materials used are recycled and rein-terpreted as the sandstone, the typical ma-terial of the valley, which was once used to build vineyard terraces. They serve here as a foundation for the new building and support for the open glass and metal struc-tural elements of the office part, where the structure is a symbol of the reflections of

the water. More information: www.hsa.lu

Police station in the Moselle valley

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Christian Bauer - Visionary, innovator, builder 5 years President of the Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie

Photo above: the European School

Luxembourg.

Photo right: Office Building Jean

Schmit Engineering.

Design: Christian Bauer Associates

(www.cba.lu).

uxembourg has become a centre of contemporary architecture in recent years. The oeuvre of one Luxem- bourg group of architects, Christian Bauer Associates, has made a pre-eminent contribution to this develop- ment. The striking schools, banks, museums, houses, offices and other buildings they have designed help to shape the face of Luxembourg City and its surroundings. Christian Bauer’s work has earned official recognition. He has been the President of the Luxembourg Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie for the past 5 years now, and has done pioneering work in this position to enhance the image of a small country that is in constant develop- ment and has achieved increasing international allure. One of the most important tasks of the Foundation is to be committed and to promote the “built culture” and a critical analysis of this culture. Christian Bauer declares: ”It must be understood that the built environment is not decided by architects, but is the result of a whole set of desires and judgments from clients, politicians and inves- tors. Those who have an influence over future construc- tions, should be educated in building, not only with regard to technical and aesthetic aspects, but also to urban planning. The Foundation also wants to maintain the quality and identity of the cities and villages. Christian Bauer says: ”For the Foundation to feel justified in expressing a critical opinion, it needs to have internal unanimity. Take our villages, for example. Suddenly, we see built volumes appearing here and there, which have nothing to do with the traditions and scales of these localities. You do not have to be an architect to feel that this presents disturbing aspects. We think that the prolif- eration of this type of building endangers the features and identity of a village.”

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Christian Bauer: “Good architecture begins with good urban planning.”

© Lukas Roth

© Lukas Roth

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National Museum of History and Art

Uniting the old and the new

Green Hill - Design: Christian Bauer Associates

reen Hill is a group

of human scale

buildings set on a hill-

top in a landscaped

setting that combines

the advantages of an

urban location with

high quality surroun-

dings. The Green Hill

project was designed

by Christian Bauer

Associates on the

basis of lasting, sober

and contemporary

architectural themes

that provide upscale

services while empha-

sising the respect of

environmental impera-

tives. Further informa-

tion: www.cba.lu

he National Museum of History and Art in Luxembourg City (Le Musée national d’histoire et d’art) is

one of the world’s most important contemporary museums. It displays works of art and artefacts

from all periods of Luxembourgian history. The museum is situated in the historic heart of the city.

The first proposal for this museum

was made during the French occu-

pation of the Revolutionary Wars,

but was never realized. After Luxem-

bourg’s independence was affirmed

by the First Treaty of London in

1839, Luxembourgers became more

interested in promoting the story of

their country.

The museum was finally founded in

1868, with the cooperation of the

’Archaeological Society’ and the

Royal Grand Ducal Institute.

In 1997 the “Fonds de rénovation de

la Vieille Ville” launched an architec-

ture design competition for the reno-

vation and construction of a new

building for the museum. The com-

petition was won by Christian Bauer

Associates. The objective was to more than double the existing exhibition space. The contemporary

architecture of the museum sensitively engages the existing historical building. The interplay between

the old and the new makes for sensual visitor experiences, with strong color and material contrasts.

Windows in the historical building look out on the courtyard. The expanded museum with its new build-

ing opened in 2002. The respectful approach towards historical buildings is evident in Bauer’s designs.

Modern Architecture in the Luxembourgian landscape

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The heart of the future University- La Maison du Savoir Esch-Belval

Design: Baumschlager Eberle (Austria) in cooperation with

Christian Bauer Associates (Luxembourg)

Conservation of Belval blast furnaces

elval blast furnaces are the last blast furnaces of the Grand Duchy of

Luxembourg. They bear witness to an important period in the history of the country and the emergence of a nation driven by the development of the steel industry. Following the transition to electric steelworks which started in 1993, Esch-Belval B, the last blast fur-nace still in operation in Luxembourg, came to a stop. Belval blast furnaces were listed on July 18th 2000 on the Supplementary Inventory of National Sites and Monuments, endorsing the government‘s wish to preserve this national heritage. At the begin-ning of the year 2000, the com-pany AGORA organised an inter-national urban planning competition, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior. The Dutch urban planning company, Jo Coenen of Maastricht, won the competition. In 2001 the government of Luxem-bourg confirmed the creation of La Cité des Sciences, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation (The City of Science) on the Belval brownfield site. The construction of the City of Science is realised by Le Fonds Belval, a public institution created in 2002.

La Maison du Savoir (The House of Knowledge) he University of Luxembourg is one of the most modern in Europe and La Maison du Savoir, which houses the communications centre for the future university, is one of the most important buildings on

campus. The competition for La Maison du Savoir, part of the Cité des Sciences, was won by Baum-schlager Eberle (Austria) in cooperation with Christian Bauer Associates (Luxembourg). Baumschlager Eberle stands for an architecture that creates buildings which optimize living environments as they generate identities for locations. Beyond fulfilling these demands Baumschlager Eberle defines architec-ture as the art of creating space for cultural expression. To find solutions for the requirements of the presence and future is the primary idea in the work of Baumschlager Eberle.

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© Baumschlager Eberle - www.baumschlager-eberle.com

What was it like to work in a a steel factory? Click on the arrow!

© Le Fonds Belval, Luxembourg - www.fonds-belval.lu

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he Grand Duke Jean Museum of

Modern Art (Le Musée d’Art Moderne

Grand-Duc Jean), abbreviated to Mudam,

is a museum of modern art in the business

district Kirchberg in Luxembourg City, with

a fabulous view over the city.

Kirchberg is built on a plateau in the north-

east of Luxembourg City and has residen-

tial areas to house almost 3,534 people.

Kirchberg also hosts many office buildings

and international banks and is home to

various European Union Institutions, in-

cluding the European Court of Justice, the

European Court of Auditors, parts of the

European Commission, the Secretariat of

the European Parliament, the European Photo Mudam: www.histoireurbaine.eu

Investment Bank, the European School of Luxembourg and a number of buildings of the University of

Luxembourg. The Mudam opened its doors in 2006 and displays works by some of the world’s most

notable modern artists. It houses the most important collection of contemporary art in Luxembourg and is

known for its splendid architecture by the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, who won the Pritz-

ker Prize. It is built on an old fortress in a marvellous dialogue between the natural, historical and modern

environment. Standing against the vestiges of Fort Thüngen, it follows the course of the former outer

walls of the fortress and is rooted in the Park Dräi Eechelen, planned by the landscapists Michel Des-

vigne and Christine Dalnoky).

Mudam - Musée d’art moderne Grand-Duc Jean

Teisen & Giesler, Architectes: Operatic Architecture

his project is an architectural representation of OPERA in which the boundaries of the discipline

are enlarged to form a cultural system based on a universal parametric mathematical language.

The model of extreme geometry shown here is an incredible movement in its own right, generating a

virtual material reality that is an excellent basis for the ordering of interior space.

For further information: www.teisen-giesler.lu

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VIVRE SANS VOITURE — TATIANA FABECK ARCHITECTS

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« Vivre sans voiture - Living without a car »

n an attempt to promote sustainable development, the City of Luxembourg wished to make some of its land available

and in this way take an active part in offering a variety of afford-able contemporary urban dwellings for a mixed population. The City of Luxembourg added to its other projects and initia-tives by proposing an innovative, pioneering approach at the end of 2010, namely the implementation of a pilot scheme called « Living without a car », in the Limbertsberg district of Luxembourg. The office Tatiana Fabeck Architects won the competition in 2011. Limpertsberg had for a long time been outside the walls of the city, which explains why it was underpopulated. Tatiana Fabeck’s project features an urban development of detached houses located within a large orchard, between Rue Ermesinde and the Avenue Pasteur. Ermesinde Orchard is unique in the sense that it is a town neighbourhood exclusively reserved for people without cars. Is it not a priceless luxury to live without a car in the town cen-tre? To live near neighbourhood shops in passive buildings featuring large openings, in harmony with nature and in an urban orchard? Within the perfectly suited Limpertsberg project, « Living without a Car » means creating a peaceful oasis and a pilot scheme which can set a precedent in other areas as long as it is linked to a road network which gives priority to bicycles.

Waxweiler Mill in Pétange ocated almost at the corner of three borders, this former mill

served the farmers of the wider region for many years.

In 2006, the firm Tatiana Fabeck Architects won an international

competition for the renovation of this mill. The first phase of the

project consisted of a bar and restaurant on the ground floor,

artists‘ studios on the first floor and a reception room on the top

floor. This community centre is called the „Wax“ and its second

phase is currently in progress. Design: Tatiana Fabeck Architects.

Further information: www.fabeck.lu

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Tatiana Fabeck, architect

RAILWAY STATION ‘GARE BELVAL-UNIVERSITÉ’ - ATELIER JIM CLEMES

esigning a railway station in the 21st century is an extremely complex problem. It is a huge challenge to adapt the traditional image of the

railway station and the industrial revolution at the time, an image that has been cherished by many writers and artists, to emerging contemporary urban needs and cultures and a strong expression of modernity.

Railway Station Belval-Université is more than a simple station. Beyond its functional role, it also be-comes an important urban landmark by providing a strong identity to the newly created urban landscape of Belval. It is an industrial brownfield site, a former steel mill area that is currently being regenerated. Firstly, this railway station is the main public transport link to this new district. It has an intermodular role allowing its users to change from one mode of transport to another. It is a seamless and effortless exchange platform. Secondly, the building is both a gateway and a bridge. On the one hand, it creates the south entrance to Belval and, on the other hand, bridges over the railway lines. It connects the existing with the newly developed urban fabric, leading its users safely into and out of the new district, and efficiently announcing the passage to an innovative and dynamic urban fabric.

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Insurance company Lalux - A traditional family company Design: Atelier Jim Clemes

im Clemes, founder and part-

ner of the Atelier

d’Architecture et de Design

Jim Clemes: ”An architect mas-

ters the art of construction,

which may sound like a contra-

diction in terms. After all, con-

struction is about rules, norms,

whereas art represents creative

freedom. Uniting contrasting

concepts is at the heart of our

philosophy. Architecture is born

out of the dialogue between the

architect and his client.”

La Luxembourgeoise (Lalux),

one of Luxembourg’s biggest

insurance companies, had

big ambitions for its new

headquarters. The main

requirements on the archi-

tecture were flexibility of use,

functionality, energy efficien-

cy, user comfort and suc-

cessful integration into the

surroundings. From the be-

ginning the client and all the

project participants were

involved in the planning

process.

he new site of insurance company Lalux is located at the edge of the Leudelange “Zone Commer-

ciale”. Adjacent on one side is a business park with a huge variety of architectural styles and activ-

ities, whereas the other side offers a wide view over the surrounding fields and meadows. Architec-

turally, Lalux stands out from the surroundings and the neighbouring buildings - the building consists

of five four-storey blocks interconnecting through a glazed base at ground floor level.

The eye-catching facade design is easily visible from afar. Consisting of both opaque and transparent

surfaces, the building envelope is covered with 2500 vertical aluminium elements in different shades

of gold, brown and bronze, giving the five blocks a uniform, time unique and iconic appearing.

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Diane Heirend, a true social architect from

Luxembourg, spreads her wings in Vietnam

iane Heirend is one of the leading contemporary

architects in Luxembourg when it comes to social

housing and artistic designs for museums, other crea-

tive building solutions and stage sets. She has many

strings to her bow, and designs buildings both in Luxem-

bourg and abroad from a sense of intimacy. “I can only

build in context,on the basis of the existing environment:

I want the people who live and work in the houses, offi-

ces, museums and theatres I design to feel at home.

When I start thinking about a project, I try first of all to

imagine how people will experience the spaces

I am designing. Intimacy, but also a certain sense of

restraint, the atmosphere, which is important when I am

designing stage sets - playing with light and forms, all

these aspects help to shape my work.“ Diane Heirend is currently working on social housing projects in

Vietnam in collaboration with a Vietnamese research centre developing new local construction materials.

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VILLA VAUBAN— Musée d’Art de la Ville de Luxembourg

uilt between 1871 and 1873 as a

private residence, Villa Vauban

owes its name to a fortress built on the

same site by Louis XIV’s most prestig-

ious military architect, Sébastien Le

Prestre, Marquis of Vauban.

The museum is located in a park laid

out by the French architect Édouard

André (1840–1911), one of the leading

landscape architects of his days.

Towards the end of the 1990s it be-

came clear that Villa Vauban was no

longer able to meet current exhibition,

conservation and safety requirements;

nor did the building live up to modern

standards in terms of accessibility and

visitor comfort. In 2003 the renovation work, planned by the

Luxembourgian architects Diane Heirend and

Philippe Schmit, started and was completed in

2010. As a result of its innovative perforated

copper cladding, the extension received the

TECU Architecture Award in 2010.

The extension of Villa Vauban by Diane Hei-

rend & Philippe Schmit Architects engages in

a stimulating architectural dialogue with the

historic building. The renovated and enlarged

Villa Vauban was inaugurated by the Dutch

Queen Beatrix. Villa Vauban was the winner of

the Prix d’Architecture in 2011. For further

information: www.dianeheirend.com

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© Bohumil KOSTOHRYZ boshua

© Bohumil KOSTOHRYZ boshua

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uxembourg Philharmonie – The Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall (La Salle de Concerts Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte), known more usually as the Philharmonie Luxembourg, is the national concert hall in Luxembourg City. The hall is located in the Kirchberg district. Its principal tenant is Luxembourg’s national orchestra, the Luxem-bourg Philharmonic Orchestra. The Luxembourg Philharmonie can seat over 1,500 people.

The Philharmonie Luxembourg: the country’s musical pride

Gaston Flesch - Consulting Engineer at Schroeder & Associés, Luxembourg

he engineer is the first violin “It is often held that the architect plays the creative role in a construction

project, while the consulting engineer is relegated to a purely technical

role. But this preconceived

idea is no longer true today

- if it ever was. In fact, if the

architect can be compared

with the conductor of an

orchestra, the engineer is

the first violin. It is difficult to

understand why educators

draw such a sharp distinc-

tion between the work of architects and that of en-

gineers. How can an orchestra ever function prop-

erly if the educational system is not yet able to rec-

ognise that a musical performance is only possible

Pont Bow-String, Oetrange, Luxembourg thanks to the synergy of the various membres of

that orchestra? The discipline of engineering is derived from that of architecture and focuses on tech-

nical solutions aimed at pushing the boundaries of innovation ever further.”

For furher information: www.schroeder.lu

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he former blacksmith workshop in Steinfort has been converted into a cultural centre, whilst the

Kinneksbierg water tower has been connected to the Bëchel water tower. Al Schmelz, in Steinfort

(Luxembourg), is a former brownfield site

which closed its doors in the 1930s. It has

been transformed into a meeting and culture

venue. Compliance with current regulations

has been achieved by adding a lift that is

accessible to all users. Corten steel recon-

ciles the raw material and its original usage,

and the distinctive contemporary aspect har-

monises perfectly with the past. Al Schmelz

is the decommissioned iron and steel factory

of Steinfort, active from 1850 through 1930,

recently restored. Many of the machines that

were once used in the factory have been

brought out and are set up on the exterior

grounds, making Al Schmelz much like an

open air sculpture museum (exhibitions,

theatre performances, and political and cul-

tural manifestations).

CULTURAL CENTRE AL SCHMELZ - STEINFORT

A + E Architects: Philippe Caulier, Pierre Kelecom,

Marc Wagner and Jérôme Dubuisson.

Second extension of the Conference Centre, Kirchberg

Designed by: Architecture et Environnement (A+E),

Luxembourg-Gasperich - www.archi-env.lu

he Luxembourgian architect’s office Archi-

tecture et Environnement (A+E) is respon-

sible for overall management of the second

extension of the Conference Centre at Place

de l’Europe in the Kirchberg district of Luxem-

bourg (photo rigth and below). This project

comprises two main elements, the second con-

ference hall for sessions of the Council of

Ministers of the European Union and the Press

Centre, which follows the natural contours of

the terrain. In the interests of sustainable de-

velopment and in order to restrict energy con-

sumption, the building is provided with a natu-

ral cooling system operating during the night-

time, efficient thermal insulation and a tie-up to

the Kirchberg Plateau combined heat and

power (CH) district heating system.

Architecture et Environnement

The architectural office A+E, based in

Luxembourg City, has more than 40 years of

experience in the fields of urban development

and architecture over a wide range of activ-

ities relating to the public sector (schools,

integrated healthcare centres and administra-

tive centres), the private sector (bank and

hotels), social and private housing, integrated

development or restoration projects, shop

fitting and interior design.

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