A windmill that has long been part of the landscape at the Luxembourg Hospital Centre (CHL) is set to disappear, but only temporarily. It will be dismantled, stored, and rebuilt a few metres away as part of plans to construct a new, larger emergency department on the hospital site.
The current location of the windmill is earmarked for the future emergency unit, which is designed to handle higher patient volumes and crisis situations.
CHL director Dr Martine Georgen explained that the new facility will include improved ambulance access and more efficient organisation, allowing it to respond more effectively to exceptional situations such as pandemics or major incidents.
The decision was not straightforward, as the windmill has been listed as a protected monument for over 20 years and is considered an important part of Luxembourg's industrial heritage.
Culture Minister Eric Thill indicated that the challenge was to balance healthcare needs with heritage protection, adding that a solution had now been found that preserves both.
Under the compromise, the protected tower of the windmill will be preserved and reconstructed. The structure has been extensively documented in advance, with around 5,000 photographs taken and detailed scans carried out.
Over a three-month period, it will be dismantled in stages, two metres at a time, with an estimated 60% of the original stones expected to be reused.
The idea of dismantling and rebuilding the windmill is not new. Dr Georgen noted that documents dating back to 1958 already recommended such an approach due to structural issues with the foundations, even though the cost at the time was considered very high.
Dismantling is expected to begin in the coming weeks, and the windmill will remain out of public view until at least 2029.
The materials will be temporarily stored by Luxembourg City before the structure is rebuilt at the edge of the hospital site, near the main road, where it is expected to be more visible and accessible.
The total cost of the operation has yet to be determined, according to CHL.
