The Royal Hamilius project will be bringing the first public rooftop garden to Luxembourg City towards the end of the year.

The 2,000m² rooftop and vertical gardens, designed and planned by JNC International offices, surround the glass atrium of Galeries Lafayette. To access them, visitors will be able to take the panoramic elevators onto the first terrace which opens up to a unique view of Luxembourg City centre.

According to Jérôme Carlier, Project Manager at JNC International: "A plantation made of grass and perennials, all between 60 and 80cm high, give way to tall bushes on stalks. Some facades are adorned with climbing vines, which need a surface to grow on. A surrounding promenade allows for a 360° view of the city around the panoramic MANKO restaurant". He added that "green areas will take up about 30% of the accessible surface of the roof".

The floor covering will be composed of 4cm-thick beige speckled natural stone tiles with a pattern inspired by the design of the glass roof of the atrium. Meanwhile, the terrace level of the restaurant will feature a floor composed of wooden planks.

The choice of plants was based on the "RED List of the Vascular Plants of Luxembourg" (Guy Colling - Musée national d'histoire naturelle – Ferrantie 42) which picks out the recommended green selection of Luxembourg and conforms to all existing local legislations and norms. These plants are adapted to the local climate and grow on the thin layer of soil on the roof. These plantations are conceived as "extensive green roofs", which are practically autonomous and require only minor maintenance.

Apart from the vertical gardens on the roof of Galeries Lafayette, the roof of the office buildings and apartments will also be fitted with rooftop green spaces, enabling a better ecological and environmental footprint of the city buildings. The rooftop gardens will also contribute to a better management of rainwater, a refreshing element to the urban atmosphere and add to a better isolation of the building. Indeed, BREEAM, the world's longest established method of assessing, rating and certifying the sustainability of buildings, has certified Royal Hamilius "Excellent" for its office spaces.