Project Description
Located in Dudelange along the Minett Trail, the Floater project is part of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, a region shaped by its industrial past and now undergoing ecological and cultural regeneration. Commissioned by the City of Dudelange, the project functions as a hikers’ shelter with four sleeping spaces and reflects a hybrid between sculpture and architecture. Designed in close collaboration between M3 Architectes and artist Franck Miltgen, it offers a spatial and visual experience deeply connected to the post-industrial landscape.
Design and Materials
The structure floats a couple of centimeters above a former cooling basin, now reclaimed by nature. The outer form was inspired by a specific mining front in the Haard-Hesselsbierg-Staebierg nature reserve, which was 3D-scanned and translated into layered geometry. Echoing the logic of 3D printing, the exterior consists of untreated steel lamellae while the interior is clad in timber. The supporting frame is made of steel, and the prefabricated wooden volume was installed on-site in just two days. All choices reflect principles of circular construction and contextual storytelling.
Unique Architectural Features
Floater’s matrix-like structure evokes the area’s former extraction sites, creating a layered form that resonates with its natural and industrial surroundings. Its elevated, modular design allows it to interact with both water and flora, establishing a quiet yet powerful dialogue with the landscape. The structure merges material honesty, spatial intimacy, and environmental integration, encouraging reflection on the region’s transformation.
Key Highlights
• Location: 1b Rue du Centenaire, Dudelange (Minett Trail)
• Design: Sculptural hiker shelter developed in collaboration with artist Franck Miltgen
• Materials: Untreated steel exterior, timber interior, modular and circular construction
• Features: 4 sleeping spaces, installed in 2 days, elevated over reclaimed basin within a UNESCO biosphere site
Conclusion
Completed in 2022, Floater is a sculptural intervention that connects past and present through form and place. It stands as a meditative pause along the Minett Trail—linking heritage, nature, and contemporary design in one expressive and purposeful gesture.
