Lift Holleschbierg, Hesperange (LUX)

project Construction of a new urban elevator including stairwell and pedestrian walkway to provide barrier-free access from the Holleschbierg to Hesperange town center client Municipality of Hesperange (LUX), public services WW+, Esch-sur-Alzette (LUX) / Wasserbillig (LUX) architecture similar to HOAI LPH 1-9, landscape architecture Ernst + Partner Landschaftsarchitekten, Trier (GER) structural engineering LSC 360, Contern (LUX) technical engineering Jean Schmit Engineering, Luxembourg (LUX) lichtplanung Andres+Partner, Hamburg (GER), gfa 546 m² ufa  47 m² nfa 468 m² gv 3.182 m³ net construction costs 5.607.000 €  planning phase 08/2018 - 05/2022 realisation 02/2022 - 07/2025 photos Linda Blatzek

Architecture

The new elevator structure forms an important node between the future redesigned Place Pol Jomé on the opposite side of the street and the Holleschbierg plateau. It creates a public, barrier-free and direct connection between the town center and the municipality’s sports facilities, significantly improving access, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

At the lower level along Route de Thionville, an inviting forecourt with a restaurant terrace and new urban furniture has been designed, encouraging people to linger. A single-storey base structure, set back against the rising rock face, accommodates the technical rooms required for the operation of the elevator, as well as a bicycle box (“mBox”) and a public toilet, thereby completing the design of the forecourt.

From this base structure rises a 35-metre-high tower with a footprint of approximately 7 × 8 metres, housing both a stair structure and the elevator system. Surrounding the reinforced concrete structure of the inner core is a perforated metal façade composed of individual diamond-shaped metal panels. Tapering towards the top of the tower, these panels create an image reminiscent of a pine cone whose scales gradually open. This design allows ample daylight to penetrate the interior of the tower while, in the evening, offering passers-by a view of the tower’s play of light, as it appears to glow from within. When ascending on foot, the opening façade provides visitors with constantly changing views of the town, the castle and the church, as well as the adjacent forest.

Upon reaching the top level, a viewing platform offers unobstructed views of the “Hesperpark,” the new Place Pol Jomé, and the wider surroundings of the town. A mesh screen positioned behind the façade, together with an additional railing, ensures both bird protection and visitor safety. The elevator cabin, with entrances and exits on opposite sides, guarantees convenient movement for both pedestrians and cyclists. The elevator can transport up to three cyclists and seven pedestrians, or up to 24 pedestrians at a time. The 28-metre difference in elevation between the districts is overcome in approximately 30 seconds.

At the exit on the upper level of the tower, pedestrians cross a 38-metre-long pedestrian bridge that spans the treetops and leads to a green arrival plateau. The bridge was designed as a single-span steel structure, installed in one piece between the tower and the hillside, and is likewise enclosed by a perforated metal façade. In this area, the façade remains continuous in order to protect the green zone below and the adjacent residential development.

Upon reaching the upper plateau, the newly redesigned Holleschbierg footpath continues and guides visitors directly to the sports facilities. The gradient of this path has been designed to ensure largely barrier-free access to the sports center. All interventions along the path were carried out with the aim of enhancing the existing situation and with respect for the natural environment.