Kiem West Lot 4

Where the neighbours share more than just an address

Designed according to circular principles, Kiem 2050 aims to develop a new neighbourhood using wood and steel construction. Situated 350 m from the future tram stop, bordering Boulevard Pierre Frieden and opposite the future Laangfur neighbourhood, the complex will offer 148 quality apartments, including 135 affordable units, as well as almost 3,000 m² of mixed-use areas (retail, offices, services, hospitality), enhanced by 6,000 m² of landscaped green space (55% of the overall surface area). These homes are sold on a emphyteutic leasehold basis. This is a long-term lease on a property, the leaseholder having full right of enjoyment. The latter exercises all rights in relation to the property.  In the event of resale, the Fund buys back the apartment at the same price (indexed for inflation) and the rate of depreciation is limited to 1% per year. 

The project has its roots in the basic concept set out in broad terms by the project management group, consisting of architecture firms Witry & Witry (LU) and SeARCH (NL), technical consultancies Betic and SGI Ingénierie and landscape architecture firm Areal, and the FUAK (Kirchberg Plateau Urbanisation and Development Fund) call for tenders, launched in December 2019. The aim of this consultation was to deliver an exemplary project in  Luxembourg: a mixed development designed according to a circular approach. Favouring natural, reusable materials, the project aims to enhance biodiversity as well as building efficiency: greywater recovery, use of underground heat exchangers to ventilate the apartments, use of renewable energy, construction methods designed with disassembly and re-use in mind. The project team has worked closely with the project management group on 7 key focuses of positive impact: wellbeing, water, energy, social equity, transport, outdoor spaces and circular design. The human and environmental principles of sustainable development were applied at every stage, from design to construction and use. 

One of the many positive impacts of the neighbourhood is its innovative new housing models, tailored to the needs of a diverse, intergenerational population. As well as individual apartments, residents will enjoy additional shared spaces (700 m² indoors and 4,950 m² outdoors, including 825 m2 of shared terraces) managed by a local concierge. Cooperation and sharing help forge social bonds and combat loneliness. These communal areas provide access to facilities not usually found in an apartment (games room, conservatory, library, multi-use room, yoga studio), while reducing costs and limiting wastage of resources.   

Contemporary residential concepts: 

• “Cluster” apartments, aimed at new arrivals, interns and others looking for shared accommodation. A hybrid of house-shares and studios, these large apartments combine individual bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and shared living areas, fostering relationships and interactions. 
• “Working-living” apartments combine workplace and home. The entrance located on Boulevard Pierre Frieden gives units used by liberal professionals visibility. A more private entrance via the communal park to the rear provides access to the private living quarters, built around a patio. 

The project is part of the Fonds Kirchberg strategy to build a compact neighbourhood with all everyday services available nearby and a wide range of transport options aside from the private car. 368 bicycle parking spaces (one per bedroom) are available on the ground floor of the building. When the K2 line serving the future Laangfur and Kuebebierg neighbourhoods is completed, the tram stop will be less than 500 metres from Kiem 2050. A public park behind the buildings will create a pedestrian thoroughfare between the Kiem neighbourhood, Boulevard Pierre Frieden and other new neighbourhoods being developed, providing gathering places for residents. The sale is ongoing. Work is set to begin during the first trimestre 2025.