Recover an industrial context. Campus of Belval by Inessa Hansch Architecte

Description of project by Inessa Hansch

Built on a former industrial site of Esch-sur-Alzette, the campus of the University of Luxemburg Faculty of Sciences is laid out over the remains of the old steelworks, dominated by its blast furnaces. Existing facilities are characterized by the minerality of their public spaces which are not very inviting for out- door activities. The lands- cape surrounding this now very urban ensemble offers far-reaching views of the beautiful countryside.

The IHA office, seeking to echo this unique and complex location, decided to create places of heighte- ned intensity encouraging more active involvement with the site and providing a wider variety of visual and physical experiences. The site is approached three-dimensionally in response to the monumen- tal scale of the industrial buildings of the former smelter, the density of the campus and the require- ments of the program.

Usable structures serving as a belvedere are placed on three sides of the site. Each one has its unique typology and program and together they com- plete the master plan for the campus whose construction is as yet unfi- nished. Their placement and openness, frame the entrances and encourage pedestrian cross traffic.

Though purposely spaced far apart, these structures are nevertheless connec- ted to each other. Posi- tioned along an extended axis crossing the site, or close to a building on piles, they are accessible from the periphery of the campus but also by passing through its inte- rior. This dual approach is made possible thanks to the skillful work on their depths and their trans- parent upper sections encourage movement and mobility. They facilitate the conditions that encourage exchanges, which are often difficult to create on a uni- versity campus.

The powerful relations and locations of these public belvedere-supporting aedicules concentrate and distribute campus activities and flows. They also provide public spaces made available up above, their height corresponding to the concrete platforms of the blast furnaces, raised to 12m.

This privileged situation enables visitors to grasp the overall quality of the site and to gaze upon these enormous buildings from a different perspec- tive. In fact, these vertical structures provide a rare opportunity to evade the public space while also re- maining inside, and linked with other people. They introduce possibilities of brief moments of isolation conducive to feeling and grasping the gigantism of this reprogrammed and reactivated industrial site.

In the intermediate posi- tion of the second level, users first gain awareness of the natural ground they are leaving to gradually rise up to the same level as the platform of the industrial monuments. Thus, they pass through different layers of uses and landscape, experiencing extremely varied visual sequences ranging from close-up views to views of the surrounding slopes far into the distance.

Belvederes, footbridges, arcades, stairs and alco- ves offer a broad range of situations for experien- cing the interiors of these structures. Exposed to the climate, lengthwise they create empty, semi-open mezzanine spaces of di- verse qualities and uses. There are a number of areas for sitting, equipped with benches with backs, which enable visitors to really inhabit these places, relaxing out in the open, gathering and sharing, while still being protected.

The different typologies associated with these structures allow for diffe- rent uses. Two of them have already been built.

The first is concentrated and quite deep in form. Close to a pond, it contains a little restaurant space on the ground floor and surrounds a garden. Shel- tered from the wind, it stands right on the existing ground, being an exten- sion of this level while marking a difference in sur- face. Its upper levels are for strolling, tranquility, mee- ting, and practicing sports. Offering quite varied views of the sky, its proportions also facilitate the installa- tion of an outdoor movie screen.

A second long structure is located close to the main entrance to the site. It is designed for displaying information but can also contain areas for seating and groups of people.

These two easy to appro- priate structures are im- bued with strong program- ming power and provide reversible and adaptable uses to meet evolving needs.

Their metal frameworks are built with square-sec- tion poles lacquered white forming modules 3.60m x 3.60 m x 3 meters in height. The generous yet easily identifiable dimen- sion creates a double rela- tionship to scale: the one of the human body and the one of an inhabitable room.

The concrete flooring is an expression the solid materiality of the artificial ground levels and the resin filler elements, lacquered steel guardrail, and stain- less steel mesh transform each unit into a qualified and inhabitable space while leaving the stroller out of doors.