Town Hall Square, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Redesign in a historical context

The Town Hall Square is the first of three squares to be realised in the spirit of the design concept for the old town. Place Hôtel de Ville, Place Grand Rue, and Place des Remparts mark the core and the edges of the old town. From Boulevard Berwart to Rue-de-Fossé, a continuum is to be developed in the long term, which will be continued in the adjacent street spaces of the old town.

To make the extension of the town hall square to the surrounding facades as a large space tangible, to spatially define the inner town hall square and to set accents with groups of trees at the square openings in the direction of Rue de Luxembourg and Place Norbert Metz, describe the interventions for the new spatial definition of the square. String trees were used, large pinnate-leaved trees with impressive crowns and fragrant summer blossoms.

The terrace in front of the town hall forms a second plinth with a long bench and conceals stairs, light and ventilation shafts. It creates sun-exposed seating and a summer event stage, which can also be temporarily covered.

Ore Garden
As a symbol of the history of the town of Esch, which is also reflected in the façade frieze of the tympanum at the town hall, 4 raw iron slabs lie in the middle of the square.

Pavement
As a characteristic material of the historic old town, the pavement is revisited, which, as seen in old photographs, characterized the spacious street spaces and squares. Along the houses, paving slabs form a front zone that marks the transition to the private, to shops or to public buildings.
Luxembourg sandstone and slate, as characteristic materials in the townscape of Esch led in combination with complementary colors to a diverse and insensitive play of colors.

Fountain - Fontaine d'Alzette
Horizontal water flows symbolize the Alzette, which runs underground here, as a water-rich river. In addition, fountains staged as water features were realized.

Cubes
A glass cube as a bus stop was realized on the other side of the bus lane. The underground car park entrances support the spatial formation of the inner town hall square as symmetrical elements, glass encloses the light-flooded stairways, stainless steel grids cover lift and ventilation shafts.

Lighting
Three light columns take on the central lighting tasks for the square area as a space for meetings and events. At night, the illuminated town hall underlines the volume defining the square and the background for all activities.