Signature look: columns for Philharmonie extension arrive

The extension of the Philharmonie towards the Melia Hotel in Place de l’Europe is gradually taking shape, with the first white columns adapted to the concert hall’s signature look having arrived at the construction site.

The grey square surrounding the Philharmonie had to be torn up, with the Melia hotel receiving some complaints from guests, which they were able to relocate to the other side of the building overlooking the valley towards the old town, a receptionist said.

Olivier Barthelemy, the site manager, and Laurent Watgen, the head of technical services at the concert hall, are doing their utmost to minimise noise pollution.

There are regular updates for the construction site workers on events inside the concert hall, whether concerts or even music recordings. Sometimes the construction site has to be completely shut down, but halting music altogether for a season or more while work is ongoing was not an option.

The construction site has also been added to the internal event planning schedule to make sure there a not conflicts.

A lot of planning and coordination is required to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Setting up storage for materials and container offices was just the start. For example, emergency access cannot be restricted.

Construction meetings are held in the empty Schuman building right next door, which is also overseen by the Public Building Administration that is officially managing the Philharmonie extension.

In harmony

Continuity is also required for the architecture itself.

“This architectural project embodies the desire to offer more and more meeting spaces centred around music while maintaining the aesthetic continuity of the existing building,” says the Philharmonie. And even though the architect Christian de Portzamparc is now 81 years old, he provided the sketches himself. CBA Architects is the Luxembourg partner of the star architect from Paris, just like over 20 years ago when the concert hall was first designed.

Site manager Olivier Barthelemy was also involved in the construction of the Philharmonie. “It’s really something special to help build a concert hall like this once in your life. Then to be able to be part of the extension is unique.”

The architect’s swooping arches and the necessary steel work to build them are a challenge but also a trademark of the architect.

The first small white columns to complement the 823 pillars surrounding the original building have just arrived.

But first the old restaurant on the south side is being tackled. Heavy blocks of the former walls are being broken out. Preparations are being made for the kitchen of the newly planned restaurant and the shaft for another goods lift is being prepared. This should simplify the logistics of the concert hall from the delivery zone in the Rue du Fort Thüngen tunnel.

“The kitchen drains, for example, are already being set with core drillings and we are looking very closely at how the load distribution of the new building for the Trois Glands multi-storey car park under the square will work,” said Watgen.

The square holds many complexities.

“There were no detailed plans,” Watgen said. “That’s a bit surprising for a square that’s only 20 years old.” The pipes first had to be correctly mapped and then laid around the construction site. Despite these underground surprises, the team remains confident. “There are actually no real delays. We are still on schedule; the end of 2027 is the target,” said Watgen.

The construction site is also having an impact on rooms in the main building of the concert hall. Some rehearsal rooms on the south side can no longer be used and preparations for the technical connection between old and new are underway.

Directly after the end of the season – the Kinnekswiss concert on 4 July – the cafeteria in the backstage area will be demolished. “We will then have to manage without it for around seven months,” said Watgen.

And even though time is pressing – and the Philharmonie’s summer break would be ideal time to push ahead – the construction site is set to lie idle during the annual collective leave in the sector.

(This story was first published in the Luxemburger Wort. Translated using AI, edited by Cordula Schnuer)