Programme

RED LUXEMBOURG, consisting of an exhibition and a book, addresses two issues, Proximity to Nature and Affordable Housing; subjects that have been at the core of the history of urbanism and architecture and have evolved into commonplaces of political and promotional discourse. 

The south of Luxembourg and the adjacent territory of the north of Lorraine are characterized by large post-industrial zones where a specific kind of nature has taken over. Within the context of strong economical and demographical growth and the related lack of affordable housing, these urban sites are the subject of imposing projects for new neighborhoods. How can these wastelands, which are destined to play a crucial role in the future of the territory, be mobilized as generous, architecturally exciting and equitable environments? 

Starting from the high probability of the redevelopment of these sites, RED LUXEMBOURG makes a proactive proposition: a new spatial strategy aiming to reshuffle ecological, social and economic stakes in order to feed into upcoming political debates on the future of the territory. 

How to address the paradox of the colonization of nature in our desire to live closer to it? What kind of housing typologies could successfully ally economy and generosity? How to better organize access to housing? How to cherish the particular ecology of these wastelands while developing them? What are possible directions for a just development of a territory marked by cross-border inequality? 

The exhibition RED LUXEMBOURG, which will take place at the Kulturfabrik in Esch-sur-Alzette starting from March 24th 2022, will present a possible approach to these subjects by means of a spatial proposition. The publication will assemble writings from diverse experts both focusing on the specificities of the franco-luxembourgish context and introducing an international perspective on the questions at stake. Together these cultural events will be an invitation to true societal and architectural experimentation. 

Curatorial and editorial team:

Arch. Peter Swinnen (CRIT. architects, Uni.Lu)

Dr. ir.-arch. David Peleman (Uni.Lu)

Arch. Nathan Heindrichs (CRIT. architects)

Ir.-arch. Beatriz Van Houtte Alonso (CRIT. architects)

Experts, authors and interviewees:

Tom Becker

Prof. Pascal De Decker

Prof. Matthew Gandy

Prof. Markus Hesse

Dr. Sandra Jasper

Dr. Germain Meulemans

Architecte paysagiste Jan Minne

Prof. arch. Jan Moens

Prof. Erik Swyngedouw

Photographer:

Stijn Bollaert

Layout:

Arch. Leonard Streich (Something Fantastic)

Publisher:

Walther König

Partners :

Uni.lu

Ministère du Logement (Luxembourg)

Ville d’Esch-sur-Alzette

Esch2022

Centre culturel Kulturfabrik