In Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, the Quartier Brouch district is being reworked around an existing primary school, with a plan that breaks a former perimeter block into three building ensembles organized around green courtyards. A public, car-free path is planned to run between the buildings, creating an open connection through the site.
The city of Esch commissioned a refurbishment of the historic school building, plus three replacement buildings for École Brouch. In the final arrangement, four building volumes will form a nearly square courtyard, with generous ground-level openings that keep the courtyard visible and accessible from all sides. Bridges on the first floor will connect the parts.
The first phase is complete and in operation, with two new school buildings: Building C to the south and Building D to the west. While designed as contemporary additions, both tie back to the existing campus through their brick facades, which are coordinated with the color tones of the historic plaster and natural stone facade. For quality and durability, the design specifies solid facing brickwork.
For mason contractors, the facade package reads like a reminder that “brick facade” does not mean “simple.” The window proportions follow the historic building, and the masonry is designed to echo its compositional principles. Parapets and balustrades use brick laid in a random bond and finished flush. At ground level, piers and wall sections between window openings shift to a vertically articulated treatment, with cross joints expressed in a relief-like pattern, creating pronounced three-dimensionality that depends on consistent layout and joint execution.
The campus also integrates a partially underground sports hall in Building D, a production kitchen sized for up to 500 meals on site plus 200 for other schools, and an energy concept that includes natural ventilation, a climate-adaptive “Parieto system” in the facade, and rooftop solar panels. Future phases add another replacement building, refurbishment of the existing structure, and a separate preschool with a sheltered courtyard garden.
Read the full, original article from e-architect here.