Excavation underway at Royal Hamilius

New record to be set for the largest thermal labyrinth in the world

Excavation for the labyrinth at the Royal Hamilius project in Luxembourg is underway, and when this project is complete it will create the world’s largest thermal labyrinth. Arguably the record is currently held by Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia, also designed by Atelier Ten.

Atelier Ten worked with architect Foster + Partners in partnership with Tetra Kayser Associés on this project to enhance and repair the urban fabric and create a suitable setting for the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project comprises a department store, offices, shops, apartments, and a variety of social and civic spaces and will provide 36,000m² of accommodation when built. Designed as a gateway to the historic quarter of the city, the development is anchored by the historic Hotel des Postes, which provides the backdrop to a new civic square with space for ice skating, markets, open air concerts or cinema screenings.

A series of thermal labyrinths will be built below the building to supply pre-cooled fresh air to offices, supermarket and a multi-storeyed department store. In addition to engineering the thermal labyrinths, Atelier Ten provided environmental façade consultancy and conceptual HVAC consultancy. CODIC International are the developers for this project.

Atelier Ten have also completed labyrinths at the Alpine House in Kew Gardens, London, UK and the TMB Headquarters, Ankara, Turkey.

For more information on the construction of the Royal Hamilius please click here.

Images courtesy of Foster + Partners.