The firm Beng Architectes Associés is publishing a book featuring 35 projects completed between 2023 and 2026, as a way of celebrating this anniversary whilst documenting recent developments in architecture in the Grand Duchy.
The initiative is part of a long-standing tradition. For the past 15 years, Beng Architectes has published a book every five years showcasing a selection of its projects. This tradition was interrupted and then postponed during the Covid pandemic, before returning to its usual schedule to mark this new symbolic milestone.
Throughout its pages, the publication highlights the diversity and excellence of Luxembourg’s architectural production through a curated selection of landmark projects. Readers will discover, among others, a contemporary single-family residence in Angelsberg, the technical refurbishment of the PiKo swimming pool in Rodange, the new P+R facility in Troisvierges designed to address sustainable mobility challenges, and the extension of the Service d’Éducation et d’Accueil in Reckange-sur-Mess, conceived to support evolving educational needs. These projects, together with many others featured in the book, illustrate the richness and ingenuity of the architectural responses being developed to meet the contemporary challenges facing the territory.
The aim of this book is to reveal what lies behind a building’s façade. (Beng Architectes Associés)
A behind-the-scenes look at 35 projects
However, this edition does not seek merely to provide a list of projects. Its focus lies elsewhere: in revealing what lies behind the architecture. “We wanted to show why these buildings exist, what they offer and the context in which they were designed,” explains the firm. Each project is thus presented through its history, its constraints, its challenges and its impact on its surroundings.
The selection of the 35 projects is by no means a ranking. A detached house features alongside a public facility, a school or even a care home. The idea is to reflect the diversity of the projects carried out in recent years rather than simply highlighting the most spectacular achievements.
A strong local identity, embraced wholeheartedly
The book also has strong local roots. The white cover, deliberately minimalist, reveals a series of dots whose meaning is only revealed when the book is opened: a map of the locations of the projects featured. A subtle nod to the central theme of this edition, dedicated to Luxembourg.
This commitment is evident even in the smallest details. Localities are listed by their Luxembourgish names, and each project is accompanied by geographical coordinates enabling it to be pinpointed precisely. This serves to emphasise that the architecture presented here is, above all, the result of a dialogue with local realities, the municipalities, businesses, design firms and clients who shape the country on a daily basis.
A relatively limited release
With a print run of 1,000 copies, the publication is currently being distributed to institutions, local authorities and the office’s partners. However, its purpose goes far beyond that of a mere promotional item: there is no doubt that, over the years, these publications will serve as a record of the evolution of Luxembourg’s built environment.
So, in 30 years’ time, when some of these buildings have become an integral part of the landscape, this book will serve as a valuable record of their origins. A snapshot of an era, its needs, its ambitions and its approach to building.
In recounting these 35 projects, Beng Architectes Associés ultimately tells us a little more than just its own story. It is also a history of Luxembourg – both recent and not so recent – that unfolds, page by page.
