Sitting at a table on a terrace on this lovely July morning, 
One of his current projects? Nothing less than installing an open-air swimming pool on the site of the former Martin Losch garages in Esch-sur-Alzette. He presents this proposal less as an architectural project than as a way of breaking the deadlock in a situation that has dragged on for far too long.
“I don’t want to cause any harm to either the local council or the developer. I’m simply proposing a solution,” he insists right at the start of the interview. He has no intention of fuelling the controversy surrounding the site of the former Martin Losch garages on Boulevard Prince Henri, where a major property development is currently bogged down in legal proceedings.
His idea is quite different: to take advantage of this situation to finally provide the country’s second-largest city with an open-air swimming pool. “Why not solve a problem whilst ensuring that society as a whole benefits?”
The neighbourhood has been put up with the sight of a gaping hole for years. You can’t let a neighbourhood’s residents suffer just because a building site isn’t making any progress!
An idea born out of a love for the neighbourhood
This proposal did not originate in an architect’s office. Steve Krack knows this part of Esch intimately. His father used to own a garage there, and he himself regularly passes by this huge excavation site, which now dominates the urban landscape.
“The whole neighbourhood has been put off by the sight of a gaping hole for years now. You can’t let a neighbourhood’s residents suffer just because a building site isn’t making any progress!”
In his view, there are several factors in favour of redeveloping the site: a particularly densely populated neighbourhood, a lack of green spaces, a direct link to the cycle path connecting Belval to the city centre, the proximity to future residential neighbourhoods and a large student population spread across the Belval area, as well as the rest of the country’s second-largest city.
“The country’s second-largest city doesn’t have an outdoor swimming pool? Every major city has one. Why not Esch?”
Bursting with ideas, Steve Krack has drawn up a very well-structured plan for Esch-sur-Alzette. All that remains is to get everyone involved and rally all those willing to help. (Image provided by Steve Krack)
Repair rather than build
Honoured last week for the refurbishment of the Graace Hotel at the Luxembourg Architecture Award, this is not the first time Steve Krack has explored the idea of repurposing existing spaces. Throughout his career, he has specialised in the regeneration of buildings and the transformation of neglected sites.
In particular, he mentions several award-winning refurbishments, as well as a previous project conceived several years ago with 
I always choose dark places in an attempt to bring light back into them.
He remains true to the guiding principle that has shaped his career: “I always choose dark places in an attempt to bring light back into them,” he says with a smile.
A phrase that sums up a virtuous approach to building: before building more, breathe new life into what already exists.
A swimming pool as a community facility
Steve Krack envisages a vast landscaped park, rich in greenery, organised around a natural pond rather than a traditional swimming pool. “The project would consist of greenery, with a natural pond, trees and a proper park. Admittedly, to answer your question, it would be no less expensive than a conventional swimming pool, but so much more in keeping with the times.” In his view, management could remain entirely in public hands: “A swimming pool is probably the most social facility there is. Ideally, the land should be purchased by the State and run by the City.”
Ancillary activities (such as a restaurant, ice-cream parlour or snack bar) could then be awarded to private operators through a tender process. Steve Krack is also keen to clear up any ambiguity: this proposal is not intended to secure a future contract. “Ideas come to me, so I put them out there. Then, if I’m needed, so much the better. If not, that’s fine too! [Smile]” And with good reason: according to Steve Krack, an architect’s role is also to fuel public debate. “I wake up every morning with an idea.”
Neither against the developer nor against the City
Krack also rejects the idea that his proposal should be interpreted as a criticism of the local council or the developer. “I really don’t want to cause anyone any harm; in fact, I believe that the municipality of Esch is experiencing a positive momentum and that the politicians are doing a very good job at the moment. Many major projects are progressing well and in a very proper manner.”
According to him, the construction of the swimming pool would complement the future residential developments already planned for the area. “As both a professional and a user, I believe Esch needs its own open-air swimming pool. And the site I have in mind is, in my view, the perfect location.”
When asked about the possibility of his idea being exploited for political gain in the run-up to the local elections, Steve Krack quickly brushed the question aside. “The role of a politician is to offer the best to their constituents. If that then becomes an election pledge, why not? But that’s not my concern.”
Ultimately, Steve Krack isn’t presenting a turnkey project here. He’s putting forward a line of thought, convinced that certain ideas can sometimes help a city to evolve. “If one idea in ten comes to fruition, that’s already brilliant,” he says, before rushing off to work on a new project.
