ESM & Luxembourg State Administration, Luxembourg (LU)
New building
Client: Ministère de la Mobilité et des Travaux Publics Luxemburg
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller with Franz&Sue and Architecture + Aménagement
Competition: 2022
Area: ESM 13,560 m², Luxemburger Staat 21,250 m²
Programme: Offices, conference rooms, shops, catering
Visualisation: Dietrich Untertrifaller, Franz&Sue
Team
Zarina Belousova, Christina Kimmerle, Babora Köver Tothova, Andreas Laimer, Elias Ludwig, Cuong Nguyen
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics: Knippers Helbig, Stuttgart and InCA Ingénieurs Conseils Associés, Niederanven
Building services: Büro Happold, Berlin
Landscape: Glück Landschaftsarchitektur, Stuttgart
Open in spite of strict safety regulations
The administrative district on the Kirchberg is home to numerous European institutions. However, the European Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors and the Investment Bank cannot be accessed by the public due to strict security regulations. Our design creates an identity-forming ensemble that incorporates the public space and offers users and visitors an attractive destination.
The functions of the ESM (European Stability Mechanism) and the Luxembourg State are spread across five buildings. As a large cube, the representative ESM conveys an image of stability, but also of balance. The four ministry buildings of the State of Luxembourg enclose a square and form a public neighbourhood. The shared plinth houses the entrances as well as shops and restaurants. This lively, transparent ground floor forms the urban centre of the quarter.
Stability through balance
The image of stability through balance is the core of the ESM concept. The upper office floors are statically kept in balance like scales, so that we were able to create a very transparent design for the conference floor below. The ground floor guarantees the necessary security perimeter without additional fencing. The result is a clear, seemingly floating structure that creates an attractive working environment on the inside, with numerous open spaces, internal communication zones and green courtyards.
Wood and ceramic atmosphere
The wooden surface can be sensed in the interior and creates a cosy atmosphere. Ceramic as a façade material provides a robust exterior effect. A skilfully combined colour spectrum of different shades of ochre gives each of the buildings their own individuality without disturbing the ensemble effect.
Urban planning approach
Five cubes of different sizes form a homogeneous unit, structured by a diagonal axis of three consecutive squares: The green park on the urban traffic axis, the central square with a lively ground floor and the landscaped square as a buffer to the tower block.
