Solum Installation by Atelier Faber – A Landmark Environmental Art & Landscape Architecture Project in Luxembourg

Solum by Atelier Faber is a groundbreaking landscape installation in Luxembourg City that highlights the critical role of soil permeability, ecological restoration, and sustainable water management. Designed on the historic site of an old well, the installation functions as both an architectural intervention and a living environmental exhibit, revealing how the natural reclamation of soil contributes to combating drought, flooding, and climate instability.

A Landscape Installation Rooted in Ecology and Soil Regeneration

Atelier Faber approaches the project with a deep focus on environmental architecture. Solum draws attention to the natural process through which inert, compacted soil gradually becomes porous again through the activity of microorganisms, roots, and organic matter. This return of porosity is essential for:

• Rainwater absorption
• Groundwater replenishment
• Reducing surface runoff
• Enhancing climate resilience

By positioning the installation at a culturally significant former well, the architects reconnect the site to its elemental history of water, geology, and soil.

A Primitive yet Contemporary Architectural Language

Solum stands out for its raw, elemental aesthetic. The installation features:

• Luxembourg sandstone pillars, symbolizing the geological foundation that helped form the country’s largest aquifer.
• A band of reeds, representing wetlands and the natural ecosystems responsible for maintaining soil permeability.

The layered composition merges stone and plant life to create a landscape that feels ancient yet timely—an architectural narrative about nature’s power to reclaim and heal.

Celebrating Spontaneous Flora and Ecological Succession

One of the most unique aspects of Solum is its integration with the existing spontaneous vegetation that had emerged naturally on the site. Without human intervention—no watering, fertilizing, or maintenance—the surrounding plants represent the species most resilient and best adapted to the local soil and climate.

The landscape design strengthens this ecosystem by:

• Enhancing the density of the shrub layer
• Encouraging ruderal species in nitrogen-rich soils
• Supporting grasses and hardy annuals in dry zones

This approach emphasizes biodiversity, soil health, and long-term ecological balance, aligning landscape architecture with natural processes rather than controlling them.

Materials that Connect Heritage and Environment

Solum uses only two primary materials, each loaded with meaning:

• Reeds – lightweight, flexible, and symbolic of wetland ecosystems
• Luxembourg sandstone – representing the region’s geological memory and water-bearing formations

Together, they create a structure that is both sculptural and ecological, enhancing the visual identity of the site while educating visitors on the importance of soil and water cycles.

All the photographs are works of Giaime Meloni, LUGA