Nouvelle Gare Belval-Usines

Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

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Connecting the city of Esch-sur-Alzette, a redeveloped former steel region, with the rest of Luxembourg and France, the Nouvelle Arret Belval Usines is the second largest train station in Luxembourg.The waiting area constructed above the platforms is covered with thirty one, triple layered ETFE-cushions. The upper and middle layer of the cushions are printed with a silver chequerboard pattern.As the pressure in the lower and upper chamber of the cushion is regulated separately by an ingenious air supply system designed by Hightex, the middle layer can be pushed against the upper layer of the cushions until the layers can meet. By varying the distance between the upper and middle layers, the light transmission and hence heat gain can be controlled.Thus during the summer months the system can reduce the sunlight entering the building causing it to otherwise overheat, whilst in the winter, during the darker and colder season, the roof can be set to allow higher solar transmission, giving good daylight levels and capturing any available solar gain.