Foster + Partners has completed a new office complex in Belval, Luxembourg that promotes flexible and collaborative working environments. Called ICÔNE, the 202,362-square-foot structure is filled with light and greenery, cultivating a safe, spacious atmosphere while referencing the rich industrial heritage of Belval. The project aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating. 

ICÔNE’s location is described as a new city quarter that combines research, education, leisure, and commerce. The complex relates to the scale of the neighboring buildings, along with the varying characteristics of the surrounding streets. Its entrances are oriented differently in response to Porte de France, the main urban street to the west, and the Place de l’Académie to the east. These entrances will be enlivened by new shops, cafés, and restaurants. 

“We are delighted to celebrate the opening of this landmark project for Belval, which we began designing in 2016, well before the pandemic began,” said Foster + Partners Partner Darron Haylock. “Covid has highlighted the need for healthier and more flexible urban workspaces, which is exactly what this project provides. The light-filled central atrium is the beating heart of the complex, promoting collaboration and enhancing employee wellbeing.”

ICÔNE was designed in collaboration with local practice BFF architects. The building is arranged as two wings enclosing a central atrium, which is wrapped by an orthogonal façade and roof. These components emphasize the complex’s structural grid, further relating it to its industrial context. A historic Belval blast furnace is the central focus of the vista from the atrium. 

The atrium features a series of stepped terraces, enhancing the fluid and open nature of the internal space. Additionally, communal green landscaped terraces offer space for informal meetings and break-out spaces at higher levels. 

The building's structure allows for column-free office spaces as well as solar shading and maximized internal daylight. The external façade also features a series of green loggias, which are visible from both the inside and outside of the building.