The new Metzeschmelz quarter, a territory of citizen participation
Metzeschmelz: this is the name of the new quarter on the border of Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange on the site of the former steelworks. The name was thought up by a citizen after a competition open to all. A powerful symbol of the importance of citizen involvement in the development of…
Once upon a time there was Esch-Schifflange and its new quarter “Metzeschmelz”
Ideally located between Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange, about one kilometre from each town centre, this industrial wasteland shows enormous redevelopment potential as part of the “Metzeschmelz” project. Designed and managed by AGORA, this new quarter will be unique in Luxembourg with a totally innovative urban planning approach that puts people at…
Quality of life for all: AGORA’s winning bet
There are the students we see cycling past, riding on the cycle track on their own lane, to arrive on time for lectures. And the employees picnicking at lunchtime in the park a stone's throw from their offices. There are the residents shopping just outside their apartment block, and the…
The industrial wasteland: a fascinating urban planning study subject
During the urban planning study on the Alzette Quarter, students architects were interested in the major AGORA project. And the aim was? To suggest their own ideas and train for the job on a site unique of its type. Supervised by their teachers from the Münster School of Architecture (MSA),…
The sociologist in urban design
Developing the urban environment is a complex adventure. The constraints are of course technical, technological and spatial. They are also social: the city, a living and shared space, is experienced and lived in by a wide variety of users. This is why AGORA frequently chooses to integrate the perspective of…
Consultation: collective intelligence at the service of living together
Involving the public, listening to them, questioning each other, being faced with differing points of view... Consultation means using collective intelligence to promote living together and thus build an urban space that makes sense for everyone. This is one of the creeds of Robert Kocian, AGORA's Marketing and Development Director.…