In November 2022, Luxembourg City launched a European Ideas Competition with the aim of promoting and rehabilitating the Mansfeld site, located in the city’s district of Clausen. At the selection panel’s last session in May 2023, two of the five shortlisted projects were selected: Logis Mansfeld by Kaell Architecte and Areal Landscape Architecture, and Renaissance de Mansfeld by Urban Agency and Binario Architectes.
The installation ‘Histoire(s) d’eau‘ by AREAL, a landscape architecture firm, reclaims the role of water by redirecting the spring water into Mansfeld Park to create new water features, thus honoring the former château de La Fontaine’s iconic fountains.
Mansfeld Park, the site of the former La Fontaine castle, was built between 1564 and 1604 by Count Pierre-Ernest de Mansfeld, who governed Luxembourg for nearly 60 years. The castle and its gardens were named La Fontaine, meaning ‘The Fountain,’ in recognition of the numerous water displays that once graced the grounds.
In homage to this history, AREAL will introduce three playful water installations during the exhibition. Derived from natural spring water, the puddle of Neptune, visible from a cave accessible only during the 2025 LUGA exhibition, fills as drops fall. The wave of Petrus recreates the ripples of a drop, encouraging play while the Venus fountain will gently sprinkle the verdant Mansfeld Park.
