Pedestrian and cycle bridge

Skilled works – a work of art

The bridge will connect Avenue John F. Kennedy and the Parc des Trois Glands. It will enable pedestrians and cyclists to access the Musée d’art moderne Grand-Duc Jean (Mudam) and the Museum of the Fortress from the Rout Bréck-Pafendall interchange. The works are intended to increase the visibility and visitor numbers to the site.

As part of the Master Plan for Luxembourg City (Plan d’aménagement général de la Ville de Luxembourg, PAG), the intervention site is located in a “special European and national central mixed urban development zone” to which a “natural elements” easement attaches.

Consequently the walkway– envisaged in the PAG as a “corridor and space reserved for soft mobility projects” – is to be realised in such a way as to present a harmonious integration into the landscape and the wooded environment. The destruction of or reduction in the natural elements are to be kept to a strict minimum. Any construction there which might harm the integrity of the natural element concerned is prohibited. The design will take account of the forest’s development (for example, the factor of growth) and tree movements (wind, storms, etc.).

The lighting system integrated into the bridge will ensure user safety, whilst limiting possible impacts on the nocturnal life of the local fauna.

Le système d’éclairage intégré dans la passerelle devra assurer la sécurité des utilisateurs, tout en limitant d’éventuels impacts sur la vie nocturne de la faune locale.

A walkway that seems to float between the trees

In 2018, the Kirchberg Fund launched a restricted competition for “architect + engineer” pairings. The design chosen is characterised by its sculptural quality, and a desire not only to preserve the natural environment of the future walkway, but to celebrate it. The state-owned forest is considered “an extremely precious and sacrosanct space, constituting a plant treasury in the heart of the city”. The trees, the clearing and the anchorages of the walkway define the route taken by the structure, which is raised up on three metal beams and on the head of the reinforced concrete apron on the “Bastion” side. On the other side, at the entrance to the forest, the construction is anchored on a concrete abutment with micropile foundations.

The way the loads are being distributed means that access for realising the foundations can be limited to zones located outside the protected forest. The walkway floor will be installed using a crane positioned below the “Bastion”. The floor sections – pre-fabricated in the factory – are lifted above the trees and assembled using a stainless steel bolting system that is invisible from the outside, but which later remains accessible for maintenance works.

The line of the walkway is sinuous, with benches installed in the curves. Through its architecture, the walkway encourages users to slow down and invites them to a meditative stroll.

Stainless steel: an exceptional choice of material

Studying the relationship between nature and culture greatly influenced the choice of materials: the main frame is in polished stainless steel, with the visible sections in concrete (abutments, column bases) being realised using a white cement. The walkway floor is covered either in a white concrete or in natural stone. The parapets are in laminated safety glass. The materials contribute to the experience that the future users will have. Depending on the seasons, the light, the curves and the observer’s viewpoint, the walkway will appear different depending on the reflections of the sky on the superstructure and the reflections of the vegetation on its floor. In addition to its mirrored appearance after polishing, the stainless steel has the advantage of being weather-resistant. The lighting system is discreetly installed to the edge of the floor, emphasising the sinuous curves and enabling the walkway to be used safety at night, without disturbing the fauna present on the site.

Technical file

Developer : Administration des ponts et chaussées

Architects / urban architects: Marc Mimram Architecture Ingénierie, Fabeck architectes

Consulting engineers: Greisch

Status of progress: under construction

Delivery: first trimester 2024

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