Avalon housing development, House 13, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, L
description

A housing development on a plateau in L uxembourg-City. A typical urban expansion area, with the involvement of very different kinds of architects’ offices. A nd yet not comparable with urban peripheral situations in a large city such as Vienna. On the Kirchberg the atmosphere is more international (administration buildings, large cultural buildings) and housing is also ascribed a different value. Social housing is not the theme here, but living space for a better-off clientele, that is to say high-quality privately-owned apartments. These aspirations are met by HVP’s buildings, which were built at the entrance to this development (Houses 3 and 4) and more recently also at the end (House 13). T he anthracite-coloured clinker brick façades place a calm and elegant accent in a mixed development, and generously dimensioned areas of glazing offer an attractive view, even from the depth of the apartments. L oggias and balconies are protected by the broad overhang of the roof that defines the building volumes in a special way. Wooden sliding elements can be used individually – to provide shade, to close oneself off. T here is a special case, imaginary and unrealistic, when all the shutters are closed: the building would be transformed into a monolithic sculpture closed off from the outside world. B ut this will never happen, the building is alive.
DATA

Client: Felix Giorgetti Immobilier Sarl
Competition: 1989
Start of planning: 1990
Start of construction: 2004
Completion: 2006
Usable floor area: 2.890 m2
Enclosed volume: 11.991 m3
Outdoor area: 2.400 m2
Residential units: 39