No sooner have you stepped through the porch than avenue de la Gare already seems a world away, as the noise of the street quickly fades into the distance. Behind the restored historic façade, a leafy inner courtyard, red bricks and a few balconies create a small village sheltered from the traffic. Maison Melu officially opened its doors on 14 September in Luxembourg City, ahead of an official opening ceremony scheduled for 22 October.
The project was developed by the Luxembourg-based Félix Giorgetti Group, in partnership with the Compagnie Foncière La Luxembourgeoise. Operated by Gio Hospitality, the group’s hotel and restaurant division, its architectural design was created by architects Thierry Linster and Ivan Stupar, while the interiors were entrusted to the renowned Amsterdam-based studio Concrete.
In the Maison Melu brochure (named in honour of Melusine, of course), ‘Cosmopolitan living Luxembourg’: three words that make the message crystal clear. Spanning 8,900m², the complex comprises offices, retail space (still available) and, above all, two types of accommodation: 45 hotel rooms for short stays and 43 furnished flats for medium- or long-term lets.
Not one, not two, but seven ways to settle in
Maison Melu offers seven categories of accommodation, ranging from 22m² to 25m², as well as two- to four-bedroom apartments, which can be up to 170m².
The concept is simple but effective: it ensures that guests do not feel like anonymous, passing visitors. The rooms feature an en-suite bathroom, a workspace, a Smart TV, a fully equipped kitchen, a proper fridge and storage space specially designed to hide luggage and shoes. We were personally delighted by the doll’s-house-sized dishwasher in the smallest of spaces. The ultimate bonus is that each accommodation also benefits from an outdoor space – something still relatively uncommon in urban hotels.
“When you’re travelling every week, you want to feel a bit at home. Here, we’ve even made the suitcase disappear,” smiles Michel Volk, head of hotel development at Gio Hospitality. He then pulls out the pull-out storage compartment under the bed, which conceals bulky suitcases and unsightly shoes. “To feel at home, you have to banish any notion of a hotel room,” he explains.
Michel Volk is pleased with the end result. And with good reason. He is no stranger to this life of constant travelling back and forth. A Luxembourger who worked in London, Paris, Berlin and even Philadelphia before joining the Giorgetti Group, his experience as a frequent traveller directly inspired the concept: in short, enough amenities to make a stay easier, but not to the extent of replicating the standards and costs of a five-star hotel.
From €160 to €1,650
As for accommodation, M.Loft rooms start at €160 a night and L.Loft rooms at €175. “These prices are subject to dynamic pricing and may therefore increase depending on demand,” Michel Volk points out, with a smile.
“For longer stays, lofts and apartments can be rented for a minimum of three months. The rent for a studio flat starts at €1,650 per month on a 12-month lease. Service charges, water, electricity, wifi, cable TV and two cleaning services per month are included. The properties are fully furnished and equipped, which means residents do not have to take out a range of contracts themselves upon arrival. Parking is available at a rate of €25 per night for hotel guests and €260 per month for residents. “Short stays can be booked directly online, whilst long-term rentals are allocated on request,” adds the head of development.
What about larger properties? “Larger properties open up further possibilities: a family can stay there for a few months whilst they look for a permanent home.”
Courting the week’s top performers and the casual investors
For this new project, the target customer base has been deliberately broadened. Maison Melu has decided to cater to tourists and weekend visitors as well as business travellers in Luxembourg from Monday to Friday.
The scheme is also designed to meet the needs of newly recruited staff, families who are in the process of settling in, people awaiting the handover of their new home, or those who need temporary accommodation following a disaster.
A family can stay there whilst they look for a permanent home.
“Large residences open up further possibilities: a family can stay there for a few months whilst they look for a permanent home. And why not, for a company, to house several employees arriving in Luxembourg at the same time? In the multi-bedroom flats, everyone has their own workspace and their own bathroom,” adds Michel Volk.
Maison Melu aims to fill a niche that has so far been largely untapped: more flexible than a traditional residential tenancy, more homely than a hotel room and better equipped than a standard furnished let.
A solution to the brain drain?
Behind the hotel concept lies a wider issue: that of accommodating international workers. Simply recruiting an employee is no longer enough when that person then struggles to find suitable accommodation at an affordable price that allows for a decent quality of life.
“We’re losing talent. Highly qualified people come to Luxembourg, then leave again because they’re living in substandard accommodation that eats up a large part of their salary,” observes Michel Volk, as everyone else does.
Maison Melu therefore offers a place to stay whilst settling in. New arrivals can stay there whilst they explore the country, choose a town or village, and decide whether they really wish to settle in the Grand Duchy. The project also offers an alternative to long daily commutes for some cross-border workers who work several days a week in the capital.
The power to control the balance of sociability…
The layout of the premises allows residents to choose how sociable they wish to be. Using a key accessible via their mobile phone, residents can go straight to their flat without having to go via reception. Alternatively, they can work in the communal areas, relax in the courtyards or entertain friends and family in the communal kitchen.
The lobby is designed to be less formal than that of a traditional hotel. You can check in whilst enjoying a coffee, a lemonade or some apple juice, along with a few details about the neighbourhood. A continental breakfast is served every morning at Melu’s Kitchen, located next to reception.
The most important thing is that the customer feels welcome and immediately at home.
The building also features a laundry room, a co-working space and several communal areas. A fitness centre is due to open in November. One of the courtyards features a graffiti artwork by Spike, whilst the furnishings, décor and music selection further emphasise the brand’s ties to Luxembourg.
“We want to offer a good service, but without going overboard with five-star luxury and all the costs that go with it. The main thing is that the customer feels welcome and immediately at home,” says Michel Volk.
The shadow of Melusine behind the pile of bricks
As for the name of the venue, the symbolism is deliberate: Maison Melu takes its inspiration from Melusine, the mermaid so closely associated with the founding myth of Luxembourg. Her undulating forms are reflected in subtle touches throughout the visual identity and the interior design conceived by Concrete.
The project is also aiming for Breeam Excellent certification. A section of the historic façade, covering 198m², has been preserved and restored in collaboration with the Department for National Sites and Monuments. The decision to preserve this historic feature adds a touch of depth to what is otherwise a highly successful contemporary development.
The initial figures released suggest a promising start. Without a major advertising campaign, six to seven rooms were due to be occupied on the very first night, and nearly 70% of the hotel was booked for the following day. The group also reports receiving numerous enquiries regarding residential lettings.
A home that comes at a price
Having thoroughly reviewed all the positive and attractive aspects of the premises, it nevertheless seems important to point out that, whilst Maison Melu undoubtedly meets a need for flexibility, 51 Avenue de la Gare does not really solve the housing problem that it itself highlights. At €1,650 a month for a studio flat with a mandatory one-year commitment, nearly €1,950 for just three months and an additional €260 for a parking space, this ‘home’ remains reserved for well-paid employees or companies able to finance their tenancy.
Pet owners will also have to look elsewhere: dogs and cats are not permitted, primarily to preserve the high-quality furnishings and the tranquillity of the inner courtyard. As for those seeking a full range of hotel services, they will find neither room service nor five-star amenities.
Maison Melu is therefore creating not so much accommodation accessible to all as a highly comfortable retreat for privileged newcomers. This is certainly a well-defined niche, but it raises one final question: in our eagerness to make people forget they are in a hotel, are we not in danger of offering an apartment at hotel prices?
