Renovation of the Primary School, Construction of the Headquarter of ‘Mouvement Ecologique – MECO’, construction of 3 single-family homes, apartments, playground, and underground parking.
The overall urban project promotes the densification of housing along Odendahl Park and the Alzette River (right bank), extending to the redevelopment of Vauban Square at the foot of the church. In addition to building new homes, the project aims to restructure an urban fabric that was severely degraded by demolitions and new constructions between the 1950s and 1970s. The goal is to enhance the green character of the neighbourhood and give it a new ecological dimension.
The Headquarter ‘Mouvement Ecologique’
The new MECO building is constructed according to ecological principles and meets the standards of a “passive” building. Largely made of solid wood, with reinforced concrete used only where necessary (emergency stairwells and underground rooms) and steel for large spans, this building is designed to become a pilot project for administrative buildings. The complex program which differs on each floor, is organized within a simple and repetitive structure of flexible open spaces. Each floor is divided and equipped differently to meet the current and specific needs of MECO.
The materials selected are optimal in terms of durability, manufacturing process, origin, thermal transmission quality, implementation, greenhouse gas emissions, grey energy consumption, acidification, photosmog, heat generation, reusability, and more.
Primarily, the construction utilizes wood for its structure, finishes, and exterior joinery. The load-bearing external walls feature a traditional “post-and-beam” wooden structure, while the floors are made from prefabricated wood panels. The building is designed to convey an ecological message while offering high architectural and energy quality.
Primary School Renovation
The primary school, a significant building and institution in the Pfaffenthal neighborhood, underwent extensive transformation and renovation. A new circulation structure in front of the existing façade (Vauban Street side) revitalizes the street with a dynamic combination of old (stone and plaster) and new (steel, wood, and glass) elements, highlighting the movement of students and staff from the public space of the street.
This project also takes into account the proposed central school for the suburbs in Clausen: the Pfaffenthal school may eventually be made available for neighbourhood organizations and local cultural institutions. The new glass wall and circulation structures support this future public use, with adequate sanitary facilities and access for new users and visitors.
Above the underground parking, the redesigned playground is intended to become a green play area for children and a meeting place for residents.
The Housing
Along the path leading to Odendahl Park, in continuation with the Alzette Boulevard, three terraced single-family homes will enclose the playground. These homes offer generous views of the Alzette River and the old fortification walls, enjoying a prime location in a green setting at the heart of the city. Each house has its main entrance along the Alzette and a secondary entrance from the underground parking, located behind the houses under the playground.