A 25-storey residential tower will not only change the skyline of Luxembourg-Kirchberg but it will also be the centrepiece of the new INFINITY project for Kirchberg, originlly termed "Porte de l’Europe", and described as an "architectural jewel" to be completed by mid-2019.
As reported by The Luxembourg chronicle on 3 December, the 33,300 m2 Allfin project on the Kirchberg plateau will comprise 20,000 m2 of residential accommodation, 6,800 m2 of offices and 6,500 m2 of retail, with around twenty units. It will be the first building to be seen by those coming over the Pont Grande-Duchesse Charlotte from Luxembourg city.
The housing will be concentrated in what will become the first residential tower in the Grand Duchy which will comprise 150 apartments offering penthouse luxury through chic apartments that vary in size, perfect for families and investors alike. The project will be located just opposite the Philharmonie, a landmark building in Luxembourg. As for the retail units, they will be located on the two ground floor levels which are at different heights due to the considerable slope of the ground, and connected between them by a monumental staircase.
“This will be a very convivial area, with the sun shining in during the day, and sheltered from the wind, which is very important on the Kirchberg plateau”, ventured Olivier Bastin, CEO of Allfin Luxembourg. “But in the evening too, this will be a very lively place thanks to the numerous terraces. Porte de l’Europe will become a new destination which will also serve its immediate neighbourhood”.
Allfin won a competition (announced on 24 September) which lasted 18 months, comprising international architectural bureau Arquitectonica, based in Miami, and Luxembourg bureau M3 Architects. The developer is currently finalising the various studies (fire, acoustics…), inherent to this type of project. “We are working full steam ahead to progress with the different dossiers to be presented to the Kirchberg Plateau Planning Fund, and then to lodge our various permit requests”, explained Olivier Bastin. “We are scheduling the beginning of works for the start of 2017 and final delivery for mid-2019”.
The enthusiasm for this new site is genuine. As one example among others, Allfin has already received letters of intent from local and international retailers for … 300% of the retail space! “This will enable to choose very carefully”, a delighted Olivier Bastin stated. “Among the factors which make Kirchberg attractive, we should underline its very easy accessibility, because the plateau will soon be just a few tram stops from the city centre. Construction of this line will be completed before Porte de l’Europe opens. And that’s without mentioning the existing 1,350 parking spaces”.
The choice of Cushman & Wakefield to market the retail units is explained by the desire of Allfin to be partnered by the best specialists in the domain. “For the competition, 50% of the points involved the architecture, 25% the price we were prepared to pay for the land and the remaining 25% were attributed for the suitability of the retail concept that we were planning to create”, concluded Olivier Bastin. “The international expertise of Cushman & Wakefield was a clear ‘plus’ in our victory. We needed the advice of a group which demonstrates open-mindedness and which can see things from an external point of view”.
For details, see www.infinityluxembourg.lu.
