ARBED building
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ARBED building is the generally used name for the former headquarters of ArcelorMittal and one of its predecessors, the ARBED steel manufacturing company, which was completed in 1922 on the Avenue de la Liberté, opposite the Rose Garden in Luxembourg City. The architect was the Frenchman René Théry, and construction was overseen by Sosthène Weis.[1]
The building stands on a plot of 59,37 acres, and contains 15,000 square-metres of usable space.[1] When the building was opened, it also included salons, smoking rooms, conference rooms, a restaurant, a library, a ceremonial hall, a bowling lane and a gym.[1] Its style is inspired by French châteaux of the 17th and 18th centuries.[1] It was built of steel and reinforced concrete, but the façade is made of sandstone. Over the main entrance is a sculpture by René Rozet, which shows Victoria crowning Mercury, in the presence of an allegorical sculpture representing science. At their feet are coins and a cog, which symbolise the economic success of industry. Next to them are putti carrying a globe made of copper, a reference to the world-wide activity of business. Some sculptures on the façade are by Duilio Donzelli.
