The mood was festive in Esch on Tuesday, despite the gloomy weather. It certainly hadn’t dampened the spirits of and , who welcomed housing minister (DP), environment minister (CSV) and representatives of the town of Esch-sur-Alzette to the Rout Lëns site for the symbolic laying of the foundation stone for the first block of this future eco-district.
“The infrastructure work is well advanced and we can now begin construction,” said Lux, CEO of Iko Real Estate, during the site visit. Block 14 is intended to accommodate 185 homes at the entrance to the new district. The residential complex comprises three buildings with a total surface area of 20,000m2. “On 16 July 2017, we were at the Esch commune to discuss the progress of the project and the authorisations. Today, five years later almost to the day, we are laying the foundation stone for the project. The infrastructure work in the ground is well advanced and we're going to be able to bring the cranes onto the site to build vertically.”
“This is a crisis project,” said Huber, head of development at Iko Real Estate, who is managing the project. “The project was conceived during the covid-19 crisis, then we were hit by the rise in the cost of materials, and now there’s the real estate crisis. But we’re still here, and this project demonstrates Iko’s ability to move forward with determination and resilience, without ever changing course or downgrading its objectives.”
Gradual progress
“We began by drilling boreholes for the energy system that we are installing in the district,” said Lux. “Then we signed a Bouwteam agreement with CLE, which will carry out the work with the help of subcontractors. In total, more than 100 people will be working on the site. In about a year’s time, we’ll be able to launch the second project, and in ten to twelve years’ time the district will be finished.”
In parallel with the work on this first block, Iko is also carrying out renovation work on the historic buildings preserved on the site, and the town of Esch-sur-Alzette is working on the construction of a new school complex.
The first phase of the works will involve the installation of 70 geothermal piles, scheduled for delivery between the end of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. This geothermal solution is being installed by Soludec.
There is also the construction of the underground car parks. Over the course of a year, 400 parking spaces will be built, far more than the number of homes planned, as they will also serve the neighbourhood with the principle of shared parking spaces. “This has an impact on the cost of construction, because we have to pre-finance these car parks for future lots,” said Lux.
Aiming for carbon neutrality
From an ecological point of view, the carbon trajectory is clearly defined. It involves three levels of performance: so-called “standard” buildings, which correspond to -20% carbon emissions compared with a conventional building; “high performance” buildings, for a reduction of around -35%; and “very high performance” buildings, which aim to reduce carbon emissions by 50-65%. “The introduction of low-carbon timber and concrete construction will contribute to these performance levels,” said Huber. “But we are also studying the level of carbon embodied in the materials, working out a plan at the time of construction and optimising the entire operational phase. For the residual carbon, we have set up a compensation system. Our aim is to achieve carbon neutrality for this project in 2034, and at group level, in 2040.”
Innovation on the agenda
Innovation takes many forms in this project. There is the energy-saving system, but also the construction systems and the types of housing on offer. “We’re bringing a range of different types of housing to the market: small studio flats (30m2), compact flats, larger flats for families, duplexes and houses,” said Lux. “During the covid-19 period, we stressed the importance of having outdoor space. So all the homes have one. We’ve also made sure there are large windows to let in plenty of natural light.”
The Liicht residence, designed by Carta Relchen and Robert (who are also the town planners for the project), boasts views of the distance, the neighbouring ponds and the TT shop. The architects have worked with Picture Windows to further emphasise this relationship with the outside environment. The interior layout responds to these views. Its cascading architecture will also allow for numerous terraces and loggias, as well as gardens.
The residence of 43 affordable homes will have the same architectural style as Liicht, the same level of ecological commitment and will meet the specifications written by Iko and the town of Esch and the prerogatives set out for affordable housing by the housing ministry.
D’Haus is a residence designed by Fabeck Architectes. A nod to the neighbouring workers’ housing estate, it offers the opportunity to strengthen community ties, with shared spaces in several places and in different forms. The “Lënslounges” are communal outdoor lounges in the corridors, and there is also a communal multi-purpose room, while the roof is home to a communal vegetable garden and terrace.
The heart of the block was designed by Phytolab as a landscaped area, a green amenity space with no traffic so that children can play and neighbours can meet. There will also be a number of private areas reserved for ground-floor flats.
Marketing already under way
Marketing began a few months ago. Nearly 30% of the Liicht residence has already been pre-marketed, and the student residence has been purchased by the town of Esch-sur-Alzette. To coincide with the start of construction work, Iko Real Estate is launching a commercial offer for the sale of two-bedroom flats. They are being offered at a price of less than €500,000.
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.