A new neighbourhood can provide homes and streets. Elmen, located in the municipality Kehlen goes further: it has created a place designed for encounters, culture and everyday life. On 16 July 2025, the municipality officially inaugurated the Maison pour Tous in their “village in the village” – Elmen. The building sits on the village’s central square and offers spaces for associations, cultural events and everyday encounters. With its opening, one of Luxembourg’s largest affordable housing project now has a dedicated place for community life.

Elmen in 2020: Affordable housing and innovative planning

CIPU first reported on Elmen in November 2020 after a site visit, when the project was still in the initial construction phase and only the first houses had been completed. From the beginning on, the project Elmen was built on ambitious elements:

  • 27-hectares in Elmen, adjacent to the municipality of Kehlen, being transformed into a model of affordable, sustainable living
  • 750–800 units planned by the public housing company SNHBM, designed to accommodate around 2,000 residents, of which 10 are already fully developed
  • innovative planning principles: centralised car parks to reduce street space, pedestrians-friendly streets, and construction mainly in wood

Building plan of Elmen in its construction phases (source: SNHBM)

The visit of a CIPU delegation in 2020 showed a project balancing density, affordability and sustainability, while also trying to foster a sense of village life in a newly built settlement. Back then, the Maison pour Tous was mentioned as part of the plans but had not yet taken shape.

2025: Inauguration of the Maison pour Tous

Five years later, much of the first development phase has taken shape. Several hundred housing units are already built and inhabited, the first centralised car parks are operational, and construction of the primary school and further infrastructure is underway. Amongst these milestones, the Maison pour Tous, completed in summer 2025, is a 1,300 m² multi-purpose building that gives Elmen its social and cultural centre.

Official inauguration of the Maison pour Tous (source: Médiathèque Commune de Kehlen – Max Staus via SNHBM)

The inauguration brought together residents, local associations and officials, including the Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning and the Mayor of Kehlen. The event underlined the relevance of the building: it is not just another construction, but the core of community life in Elmen.

A multifunctional building for community life

The Maison pour Tous is located at the place central  – one of the three larger spaces for leisure and community activities. It has been designed to respond to the diverse needs of Elmen’s residents and local associations:

  • The Elmen Brasserie (163 m² with an additional 185 m² for the kitchen only), which opened its doors shortly after the inauguration, provides a convivial place for dining and informal meetings.
  • Meeting rooms and association spaces are available for local clubs, courses, and cultural activities (200 m²).
  • The “Salle Dadofonic”, a fully equipped performance and rehearsal hall, is used by the theatre group of the Ligue HMC and can also host concerts or sports activities (372 m²).
  • The “Salle Quartier” can be rented by residents for private celebrations or neighbourhood gatherings (140 m²).
  • Flexible partitions allow rooms to be adapted to different uses, while basement storage ensures efficient use of space.

 

Spaces of leisure and community in Elmen. The Maison pour Tous is located at the Place central (source: SNHBM)

This combination makes the building a true Begegnungsstätte – a place of encounter – where everyday life and special events come together. Architecturally, the Maison pour Tous is aligned with the sustainable ambitions of Elmen but keeps people at the centre:

  • A ventilated facade in charred wood gives the building a natural and durable appearance.
  • Full-height glazed surfaces provide light and openness towards the village square.
  • Strong acoustic insulation ensures that activities inside do not disturb neighbouring homes.
  • A hybrid construction of wood, prefabricated concrete and ventilated panels guarantees robustness and flexibility.

Maison pour Tous (source: Médiathèque Commune de Kehlen – Max Staus via SNHBM)

A village coming to life

Since CIPU’s visit in 2020, Elmen has moved from plans to visible reality: many apartments and a child day care centre have been completed, centralised parking structures are in place, and the first residents have settled in, while work on the school, green spaces and further infrastructure continues. With the Maison pour Tous now inaugurated, the district has gained not only housing and services but also a meeting place at its central square, enabling associations, residents and cultural initiatives to shape everyday life together.

Contact and further information

Elmen: https://elmen.snhbm.lu/

SNHBM: https://snhbm.lu/