Nei Dikrich

Diekirch is preparing for a major transformation of its town centre. The "New Diekirch" project, or "Nei Dikrich" in Luxembourgish, aims to give the area a greener and more inviting character over the coming years. The winning design was unveiled on Tuesday after more than two years of public consultation and an open architectural competition.[1]

The German firm Club L94, based in Cologne, was selected by a jury of municipal council members and external architectural experts. The criteria: public space quality, integration of urban functions, respect for local identity and history, climate resilience, ecology, mobility, and accessibility. Burkard Wegener, representing Club L94's executive management, emphasised the goal of making Diekirch's centre both greener and more water-friendly, while maintaining the existing flows of the main pedestrian axis.[1]

"Our city centres are also places where people come together, gather, and celebrate", Wegener said. "We do not hold our festivals out in residential districts or industrial zones, but in the heart of the city."[1]

From car park to park

The clearest example of what is coming is the Place Emmanuel Goethals. It is currently used mainly as a car park. The new plans propose creating a park-like space for residents to enjoy outdoor activities and relaxation, prioritising local use while maintaining some parking availability.[1]

Mayor Charles Weiler was asked whether the council supports reducing parking in favour of green space. It has not yet been decided, he said, and will be reviewed carefully, because he recognises how sensitive this issue is. But he also emphasised the disposal of a significant number of parking spaces near the town centre. "At some point, we need to shift our mindset and accept that walking also means leaving the car somewhere else."[1]

Thirty-seven sites, one paradigm

Last week, Luxembourg City announced plans for 37 sites to be greened as part of its climate adaptation strategy. This week, Diekirch unveils its own transformation. The national building code, currently being drafted, will replace over 100 municipal regulations with a single framework. The cities are not waiting for the framework. They are building it, one project at a time.[1]

The heatwave is easing. The consequences are not. The hospitals that needed 60 air-conditioning units and got 15 are still waiting for 2029. The rivers are still at record lows. The corn is still curling in Ell. And Diekirch is turning a car park into a park. The cascade moves from crisis to adaptation, from yellow alerts to green spaces, from 34°C to 30°C to the question of what kind of city you want to live in when 34°C becomes the new normal.[1]