3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
buildings will provide much of the space and infrastructure for this development. Therefore,
they have to be energy efficient and serve as energy producers and data hubs for the IoT and,
at the same time, provide high quality work environments.
2.1 Technical: Promote the use of standardized construction elements and methods
While the standardized construction elements and methods for residential buildings (see 1.1)
are equally applicable to commercial buildings, the latter require additional consideration.
High-rise buildings with intelligent façades and which require the flexible use of space also
necessitate more sophisticated digital infrastructure to support business services. Since there
are specialized stakeholders involved in the development, construction and operation of nonresidential
buildings, a separate working group with these stakeholders should be set up to fix
targets, identify regulatory changes that need to be implemented, and finance R&D.
Sustainable concepts (see 3.1 – 3.3) should become an integral part of the action plan.
2.2 Regulatory: Legislate urban context-adapted density and high-rise construction
With the population of Luxembourg expected to increase to up to about 1 million inhabitants
by 2050, workplace growth will also increase commensurately. The construction of nonresidential
buildings needed to provide these workplaces is potentially in conflict with land-use
for residential homes, agriculture, and even nature preserves. However, if the country decides
to grow as expected and become a flagship TIR model, the design of cities and villages will need
to follow a different path in order to reduce the use of space.
To assure a high quality living and working environment in Luxembourg, spatial planning should
be reviewed with the emphasis on increasing density in appropriate urban settings, while
simultaneously curtailing urban sprawl and freeing up land to restore Luxembourg’s biosphere
reserves. These aspects will also be part of the new sectorial plan for housing. Providing
sufficient public living spaces and attractive work environments should be a high priority and be
developed with deep public participation. Commercial districts embedded alongside residential
neighborhoods make up the critical components of a public commons and a dynamic
community life. This approach to urban planning is far-different from the conventional
separation of work life and social life that results in dead office districts after work.
The new legislation on urban planning should include:
An ambitious plan for energy efficiency of buildings.
The benchmarking of renewable energy generation in and around commercial buildings.
The review of spatial planning with the emphasis on increasing density in appropriate urban
settings.
143