Description: A discreet and reduced architecture with hidden openings based on a compact and pure volume. One of the main intentions of the project consists in the insertion of a residential building with 7 living units in its direct surroundings, marked by detached and solitary buildings in an suburban context. The use of a single light coloured material (fibre-cement panels) for the façade gives the building a monolithic aspect and preserves the quiet appearance. The composition of the different volumes merged to the continuous grid of the façade blurs the clear differentiation of the stacked floors, indeed often characteristic for an multi-storey housing project. Each window has been individually conceived in order to frame different viewports or to manage the supply of natural lighting for the interior spaces. These lightly hidden openings play a major role in the desired sculptural image of this realization. The goal was to avoid the simple duplication of identical dwelling units. Here, densification is thought through individuality and this customisation following the wishes of the clients appears as the finalization of this work | Total volume : 4.200m³ | Construction period: Feb.2011/Jul.2012 | Client: ASARS Constructions | Fotographer: Steve Troes Fotodesign

ext comming soon

Description : Within the framework of our project, architecture and art are found side by side, are entangled, extend and complete each other in order to create a common language, a synergy which creates an intriguing, vivid and dynamic, yet at the same time intimate, welcoming and friendly ensemble. The reflection on the relation between art and architecture is part of the concept created with the involvement of the Luxembourgish artist SUMO. It is a response linked to the evolution of the urban landscape because the era of the "post-graffiti", even if many refuse to admit, has become an integral part of the city. Sumo voluntarily covered the space from the ground to the ceiling with his artwork in such a way that his art, which one can consider being "post-graffiti", is subtly integrated in the built space. Architecture gave way to art which reveals itself at times under the overhanged volumes with yellow, orange and red clouds, at times in the background of the loggias of the apartments with its peculiar figures. Art emphasizes this formal game of the spaces that seem to have "slid" to give way to the organic sketches and eccentric colors created by the artist. This cooperation puts forward the idea of the existence of equilibrium between the development of our building landscape and the artistic interpretation | Project : The monolithic aspect of the building strongly opposes the neighboring building by its form as well as by the materials used. The project presents itself as a unique object characterized by the juxtaposition of simple and pure volumes. This aspiration stems from the ambition to set the building off from the banality of the neighboring architecture. Generally speaking, in the surrounding architecture one can see a clear distinction of the materials used for the different floors and the roof. In this construction the use of a unique material, black shiny extruded metal, gives it its monolithic and sculptural character. During the day, when the weather is nice, it delivers a warm and intense color, which, with its sharp corners, creates a strong contrast with the absorbing materials of the neighboring buildings (such as the plaster of the facades). During more bleak weather it merges with the color of the sky. At night, it is more discreet, as it allows itself to be illuminated by the city lights and the passing cars, and sometimes it illuminates the artist's artwork itself. Sliding panels allow the residents to be in relation with their environment. Seeing without being seen or being seen without seeing? The ambition was to free the three facades of the building from the circulation spaces in order to create maximum flexibility and luminosity for the apartments. The narrowness and the exiguity of that part of land encouraged the development of 4 differently sized and individual apartments. Considering the proximity to the road, the resulting lack of intimacy and the weak exposure to sunshine, we preferred the idea to use the ground floor for the garages. On the first floor, a two-bedroom 80sqm apartment is designed for a family of three. Thus, the rooms are isolated at the back of the building in order to ensure intimacy and well-being. A open space, is oriented towards the road. On the second floor, thanks to a 1m overhang on 3 sides of the building, we suggested building 2 studios, 47 and 48sqm respectively. These seem destined for young couples without children. Considering the narrowness of the apartments only the bathrooms are separated by wall whereas the rest of the space is structured using furniture, assigning the different functions. On the third floor we come across a 115sqm duplex apartment. A sturdy all-glass ceiling ensure the sunshine to get through to the north-oriented kitchen and dining room | Static Engineer : INCA s.à r. l. | Client : Immo Due, Area Immo | Begin/End work : September 2010 / November 2011 | Phographer : Steve Troes Fotodesign

soon

Description: The community center is situated in the middle of the Larochette Park, which is located in the heart of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the canton of Mersch. It fits in with the playful path devised by the Youth Hostel to encourage visitors to discover their natural surroundings. Nestled in the forest, the community center is situated along the bank thus separating the park from the communal road. In an effort to promote integration, this building tends to blend in and harmonize with its environment because of its uncluttered volumetry and its "natural camouflage" composed of larch cladding. The large bay windows, which add rhythm to the facades, are not merely natural light carriers, but they also act as visual frames onto the surrounding spaces and thus favor the dialogue between the interior and the exterior | Location: Larochette | General Contractor: Administration des bâtiments publics | Static Engineer: INCA | Photographer: steve troes fotodesign | Surface: ~370 m² | Completion: mars 2011

Description: The circulation space and they way the house has been divided is characterized by the glass slab on the first floor. It helps to penetrate the overhead light from skylights down to the entrance in the ground floor. Thus the disadvantage of an unfavorable luminosity due to the significant depth of 15m construction is removed. The house is flooded with these skylights that are beaming from underneath in the evening and consequently avoids the use of prominent luminaries. A large glass aperture (10x3m) characterizes the interest brought to the outside light and landscape and tries to remove the physical boundaries of the house. The proximity and the orientation of the dock of water reflects the rays of sun onto the walls and ceiling of the central space, which is commonly used throughout the day. The construction regulations, impose a double pitched roof, was the source of reflexion for the fifth façade; the roof deck. The idea to cover the façade with the same fiber-cement panels that reinforces the monolithic façade of the house and also raises the question of the relevance of a pitched roof that is too often imposed by the irregular construction regulations. The same treatment reduces or even erases the boundaries between the vertical surface (façade) and the inclined surface (roof). The complex construction is based on a traditional frame with rafters and sheathing and a metal construction that is used to attach the fiber cement roofing panels. Putting aside the architectural and aesthetic considerations, we can reveal a non-negotiable advantage, due to the considerable height of the formation. It will present a kind of plenum that in summer is generously vented thus avoiding overheating of the structure and habitable rooms in the attic | Begin/End work : September 2009 / May 2010 | Photographer : Steve Troes Fotodesign | Products used in project : Eternit plates

Description : Pedestrian Bridge in Esch/Alzette (the second largest city in Luxembourg). The idea was to create a direct connection between the heart of the city and the green space (Park of Galgenberg). The single volume is characterized by an uncluttered and minimalist design philosophy. The volume gesture clearly contrasts with the chaotic environment (overhead lines, power lines, boulevard, bus platforms and trains, roundabouts etc). The aesthetic of the project makes this bridge unique and creates a strong image for the station area.

The Esch footbridge ("passerelle") is the outcome of a search for identity, form and significance. It aims to confer the city of Esch an intriguing and spectacular construction (landmark), that seems to float between two worlds. With its furtive forms and scaleless architecture, it is right at the centre of urban marketing. Beyond the feelings it kindles, be they positive or negative, it unleashes a storm of questions. Who is this bridge, where does it lead to? The access to another world would remain unknown, if curiosity didn't push us to take the stairs or use the elevator to get to the top. Reflecting its environment, it likes to change its appearance according to its moods. During daytime, when the weather is fine, it shows itself in a sky-grey dress, whose rounded edges contrast furiously with the darkness of the woods beyond. When the weather is more capricious, it withdraws in order to merge with the color of the sky, and can even disappear during a thick fog. At night, it is more discreet, as it allows itself to be illuminated by the city lights and the passing cars and trains. Although -having walked up its stairs- we way feel unharmed, we have to face the fact that we are now inside the animal's guts. Confronted with its purple red color, we feel both unsettled and reassured. Reassured, because of the reference to the City, its political orientation, and its connection with the Red Earth area ("Terres Rouges"). Unsettled, because we are now in the animal's mouth, seemingly carried away by a red carpet, inviting us to cross into another world, full of trees and birds. Even though we are now on the other side of the bank, we must remain watchful, lest it turns red, to show that it closes down until dawn | Project leaders : Metaform architects & T6-Ney&partners | Partners : Speirs and Major Associates | Contractor: CDC sàrl & Cie Secs, Alterman | Client : City of Esch sur Alzette | International design & build competition : 2007 | Begin/End work : April 2008 / November 2009 | Length : 105m | Phographer : Steve Troes Fotodesign, Fabrizio Maltese photography

Prizes:

- 1st Prize in an international design&build competition, 2007

- winner of Archdaily's "building of the year awards" which recognizes the best buildings featured on their website during 2010

Project : Sports Hall | Description : The project is located at the eastern end of the European School complex and consists of two separate gymnasiums. Due to the small land a compact building had to be conceived, connecting directly to the existing school at the playground level, which is located 2.20m below the level of Boulevard Konrad Adenauer. This difference in level has led to a reduced visual impact on the length of the boulevard, which allows the building to fit in perfectly with the continuity of the existing one and, at the same time, to add emphasis to one of its extremities. The tight budget and the short period of time allotted to the construction, 28 weeks to be precise, was crucial when it came to the choice of finishes. The interior is branded by the prefabricated concrete, which is left exposed and is punctuated by a few coloured elements which are meant to help guide the occupants. White technical elements are visibly incorporated in the bare gray concrete. Outside, the facade follows a regular pattern and opens up onto the playground. | Location : Kirchberg, Luxembourg | Building owner : Administration des Bâtiments Publics | Gross area: 1242m² | built volume : 10700m³ | Completion : July 2009 | Project Leaders : Serge Schmitgen | Static Engineer : Tecna | Engineer for special techniques : Betic | Photographer : Steve Troes fotodesign

Project : Office Building | Description : The project consists of a major renovation of an existing 4-floor office building and its extension to obtain a maximum volume. Only the stairwells and 2 basements remain of the structure of the old building. The 4 floors have been restructured into 8 independent plateaus, each with its own sanitary installations, located at the center of the building. These plateaus also benefit from the extension of the existing openings. The new volume of the 4 floors contains 4 independent plateaus and 2 basements. An atrium provides a liaison between the old and new parts and creates a dramatic entrance to the new building with the glass bridges and its panoramic elevator. The new office complex now has 12 office floors that can be regrouped according to demand, both horizontally and vertically. From the outside it appears to consist of small units: 3 blocks of natural stone are set on a black granite pedestal. The new volume exceeds the two others to better set off the new main entrance. A set of metal panels blurs the differences between the old and new frames, and adds a level of depth to the facade | Location : Cloche d'Or, Luxembourg | Building owner : Leasinvest Immolux | Net Office Surface : 4064m² | Gross area : 9500m² | Volume built : 32 000m³ | Completion : June 2009 | Project Managers : Carlos Correia, Serge Schmitgen | Static Engineer : Simtech | Engineer for special techniques : Housetech | Project manager : Project | Photographer : Steve Troes fotodesign

Location : Dudelange, Luxembourg | Owner : Private | surface : 100m² | Completed : December 2008 | Photographer : Fabrizio Maltese photography

Description : apartment building | Location : Kirchberg (L) | Investor / Owner : ASARS buildings s.à.rl | Surface : 2500m² | Completed : December 2007 | Static Engineer : INCA GmbH | Photographer : Steve Troes fotodesign

Prize: Award winner of a competition organized by the Fonds d'urbanisation et d'aménagement du plateau de Kirchberg

Description : The house in the shape of the letter ?L? is closed towards the street as well as towards the access to a future settlement. It opens to the south to create an intimate garden protected from prying eyes. The main parts communicate through the large windows with the introvert garden. Boundaries between inside and outside seem erased. The 'bloc' which includes the bedrooms seems to rest on the side of the wall of the ground floor and thus accentuates the intimacy of those rooms | Location : Mertzig | Owner : Clees-Chaboissier | Surface : 270m² Living | Completion : April 2007 | Static Engineer : Associated Consulting Engineers - INCA | Photographer : Steve Troes fotodesign

Prize: European award for the use of plaster in architecture 2008

Description : The monolithic aspect of this house finds its meaning in this flat land. This house seems to be "planted". The existence of a dense hedgerow at the bottom of the plot and the topography of the latter, led us to direct the "block" perpendicular to the street. This principle of plantation protects the overexposed garden from the gaze of others and gives it a more intimate character. Also, each ground-floor room has direct access to the garden.| Location : Steinfort | Owner : Private | interior designer : Njoy | Engineer special techniques : Betic | Static Engineer : Schroeder & Associates | Photographer : steve Troes fotodesign | Size : 240m² ~ | Completion : November 2007 | Manager Project : thierry Cruchten

Description : The introduction of a new building adjacent to an existing structure raises the problem of integration and architectural interpretation. The existing house has a great character and style, which exemplifies the aesthetic approach and the use of different construction techniques at the time. Building a house next to it cannot be limited to a simple reproduction of the old, as this would undermine the importance and authenticity of the existing one. Our job was above all to create elements of contrasts between the old and new, between the solid and light, and between digging and filling. Thus the massive appearance of the existing house is offset by the light appearance of the new construction. The 'web' and 'fold' development adds a modern character to it. The interior of the house is rather introverted. The living room with its high ceiling shows the use of 'fold' and 'web' of the various plateaus. Here, space becomes a source of contemplation, playing with the volume set and the stairs. The latter also structure the space and contribute to the dynamics of the whole. The internal volume eliminates the feeling of being in a semidetached house | Location : Grevenmacher | Owner : ASARS Construcrions | Surface : 360m² | Completed : September 2007 | Static Engineer : Associated Consulting Engineers - INCA GmbH | Photographer : Steve Troes fotodesign, Paulo Lobo

Location : Grevenmacher | Owner : Private | Surface : 300m 2 | Completed : November 2007

Description : On the occasion of its centenary, the City of Esch-sur-Alzette decided to redevelop the banks of the river Dippach, a small stream running along a cycling path, by building five theme pavilions in a park. The temporary pavilion entitled "Building Economy," is characterized by a simple volume on stilts overlooking the cycling path and the river. The ephemeral character is emphasized by the light construction. The chalet can completely be taken apart and can easily be set up on another site. The volume consists of very thin frames that are wrapped with a translucent membrane. These gantries made of flat steel sheets (20 x 200mm thick) are interconnected by round tubes. These provide the longitudinal stiffness while their own geometry reproduces the transversal constraints. They are screwed to a platform, which is formed by two parallel longitudinal HEA 300. Delicate steel columns support this entire structure using different inclinations to absorb the loads (wind, its own weight, etc.) These columns imitate the trunks of trees around the pavilion. The pavilion is accessible via an anti-skid ramp. The inside of the pavilion is laid out with a solid wood floor to contrast the steel benches and features a technical block made from the same timber. The membrane protecting the interior of the pavilion is span around the steel gantry and fixed by a system of nylon cords and steel at the bottom. By day, the membrane lets in a diffuse and dim light, whereas in the evening the pavilion lights up. Building with steel has allowed us to use extremely thin columns and porticos and an extremely light structure and at the same time to maintain the necessary rigidity. The ease of assembly of the steel components and the rapid implementation are arguments that made steel an essential material for this project. | Area : 120m2 | Completion : March 2006 | Static Engineer : T6-Ney & Partners | photographer: steve Troes fotodesign

Prizes:

- Award winner of European Steel Design Award 2007

- Award winner of the Prix Luxembourgeois d'Architecture 2007

Description : The topography of the land has led us to raise the level of the garden compared to the level of the garages. The large living room is elevated and overlooks the vineyards. In order to create the feeling of sitting in the vineyards, the living room with its large windows faces this landscape. These large windows blur the line between the inside and the outside. The ground-garden is designed as a large open space. The open entrance on two levels lets in the light from the rooftop terrace | Location : Machtum, Luxembourg | Owner : Private | Size : / | Completion : November 2003

Prize : Award winner of the Bauhärepräis 2004