The stadium, originally opened in 1931 as the Stade Municipal, was renamed Josy Barthel Stadium in 1993 in honour of Luxembourg’s only Olympic gold medalist, who won the 1500 metres at the 1952 Helsinki Games. In 2019, after nearly a century as the country’s national stadium, its outdated facilities and limited capacity prompted plans for a new venue to be built in Kockelscheuer. At the same time, Luxembourg City launched an international urban planning competition to develop the original site along Route D’Arlon, which includes the existing stadium, a recycling centre, a former fire station, a hygiene service centre, and a crèche. 

Sideshore’s competition entry, Re-Cycle Josy Barthel, is a sustainable, mixed-use redevelopment that transforms the stadium and its surrounding buildings into a high-density, car-free neighbourhood featuring affordable housing, landscaped communal areas, amenities and commercial spaces. This master plan signals a new direction for life in Luxembourg: one that is sustainable and forward-looking, connected via soft mobility and public transport, and focused on outdoor activities, green spaces and community. 

Designed with sustainability at its heart, the material expression of the concept is Josy Barthel Greens: the new imagination of the stadium. Transformed into a hybrid, flexible building, the upper levels of the former stadium will become accommodation, the middle will house multifunctional spaces and the ground floor will be dedicated to commercial and retail offerings. Beneath the stadium will be underground parking and storage areas for rent. At the center, a large communal parkland—the Josy Barthel Greens.

This large, multi-purpose space will link the northern residential area with new housing to the east and a public plaza. This primary green area is supported by secondary green spaces—smaller, more intimate pockets of greenery between residential buildings designed to be shared as community gardens. In the northeast, the North Park repurposes the former recycling platform into an elevated landscape with views over Limpertsberg and Rollingergrund, and creates new pedestrian connections to the wider city. Together, these layered green spaces create a connected, human-scaled environment that integrates nature into everyday urban life.

Affordable and connected housing is part of sustainable development. The new apartment buildings will feature floorplans ranging in size from 60 to 100 square meters, allowing for a range of different living arrangements that incorporate working, intergenerational families and cooperative life. Shared amenities—laundries, social areas, and “repair and share” spaces and gardens—will further enhance the community aspect of the new neighbourhood.

The masterplan integrates architectural and urban strategies that reduce environmental impact while enhancing quality of life. These include the use of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic panels, comprehensive waste and water management systems, and rainwater collection for secondary uses. Buildings are designed for environmental performance—using eco-friendly materials, optimised orientation for natural light and thermal efficiency and topped with green roofs to support urban biodiversity. Together, these elements support a circular, climate-conscious urban environment.

The proposal is car-free and centres on soft mobility and public transport. Because of this, there are no private garages or permanent street parking; instead, public parking is moved underground allowing the surface to remain a fully green, pedestrian-friendly environment. A new tram line connecting Place de l’Etoile and Belle Etoile will be complemented by a network of footbridges, ramps, underpasses and dedicated cycling and walking paths. These routes culminate in a vibrant boulevard opposite the central green space, where cafés, kiosks and other urban amenities create an active public realm.