Future of Metzeschmelz site revealed
TOWN PLANNING
Luxembourg developer Agora, specialising in (and created for) the redevelopment of former industrial sites, in particular steelmaking sites, has just presented its guidelines for the redevelopment of the abandoned Metzeschmelz steelmaking site.
Metzeschmelz is located on the communes of Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange and offers some 61 hectares of land which will be turned into an vast urban zone over the course of the next twenty years. It is intended to construct some 800,000 m² of floor area and to make it possible for around 10,000 new inhabitants to be accommodated here. Agora has been mandated for this project by the two communes of Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange, along with steelmaker ArcelorMittal and the Luxembourg government.
The main function of the new district will clearly be residential accommodation, with some 50% of the constructions dedicated to this; And around 30% of the housing will be in the ‘affordable’ category. Marketing is scheduled to begin in 2027. Agora is scheduling a design which is able to take account of all demographic groups and ages. Following the normal consultations with interested parties, Agora has mandated the architectural work for this project to a consortium made up of Cobe Architects, Urban Agency, Urban Creators and the Luxplan study bureau. The industrial past of the site will be recalled by reconverting some of the existing buildings. As an example of this, Agora point out that one of the former industrial halls will be converted into a new tram station for the future rapid tram line to link Belval to the Cloche d’Or. It is also intended to have a great deal of green space and to limit the presence of cars in the district to a minimum.