Water Tower

In 2013 the architectural office Jim Clemes Associates from Esch-sur-Alzette emerged as the winner from an architectural competition for a new water tower. Their design envisions shrouding the functional core with a seemingly dynamic mesh of flat, white coated aluminum ribbons, that cloaks the concrete wall at a distance of approximately 50 cm.

Completed in 2018, a widely visible edifice rose from the ground during the two-year construction period – with a height of 68.5 m, it is the highest water tower in the country. It now offers an astonishing volume of 1,000 m³ and takes center stage among the surrounding industrial and commercial buildings by virtue of its impressive visual presence – during the day and at night.

The lighting concept considerably contributes to this appearance by rendering the texture and color of the exterior building envelope palpable. The tower illumination and adds a soft luminous veil to the building’s envelope while the light color plays a key role in this concept.

In our cultural area, white symbolizes purity and genuine naturalness. Thus emerged the idea to illuminate the nocturnal woven facade with cold white light of 6,500 K. The tower illumination comes from below by LED floodlights equipped with RGBW chips. Through programmed scenes, monochromatic and colored light scenes – like the three-colored national flag, color gradients or animated light sequences – can all be achieved, in addition to the standard “meaningful” white lighting.

Staggered in three distinct distances, 24 LED floodlights are concentrically arranged around the tower. This carefully calibrated gradation of light characteristics, combined with a precise orientation creates an omni-directional, astonishingly homogenous light presence.

Visible from afar in this highly frequented area, the new landmark creates interest through its visual crispness and tells the attentive observer of its precious contents.