Anyone who has ever watched a film at the Cinémathèque remembers the sweeping faux-marble staircase, the murals celebrating cinema’s golden age, and the creaking folding seats of the balcony. For nearly forty years, this intimate institution has been a cult venue for cinephiles, showcasing premières, retrospectives and cinematic treasures. In 2025, however, its doors closed. When they reopen in 2029, the Cinémathèque will look strikingly familiar, yet fundamentally renewed.
Today, the building resembles the set of a post-apocalyptic film. Waste paper litters the grand staircase, and the upper foyer feels abandoned. When I visited in December, the cinema, first opened in 1977, had already been closed for four months as part of a €43.55 million renovation. The project marks a major turning point for a landmark whose story began in 1928 as an educational space for Catholic associations. As the last original cinema in Luxembourg City, its preservation is both cultural and symbolic.
“It’s about preserving the cinematic experience for future generations,” says new Cinémathèque head Georges Bildgen. The four-year renovation includes a new lift, a second screening room built into the inner courtyard, a dedicated workshop area, a bar, and significant upgrades to acoustics and sightlines.
The transformation has been entrusted to Fabeck Architectes, known for high-profile projects including the Sky Park Business Centre in Findel and the Kirchberg pedestrian walkway near Mudam. “The goal is to integrate modern systems while making it look like nothing has changed,” explains architect Tatiana Fabeck. “Some interventions will be visible, such as removing the old level –1 toilets, but the overall spirit remains.”
The City of Luxembourg commissioned the architects for a feasibility study shortly after acquiring the building and the adjacent plots. “We always knew the building lacked compliance, accessibility and functionality,” says city architect Luc Ramponi. “Once we became the owners, we could finally carry out the necessary renovation work.”
For returning moviegoers, the historic screening room will feel largely untouched, though subtle technical improvements will enhance the viewing experience. The most visible change is the dramatic reduction in seating, from 187 to 72 (plus four wheelchair-accessible seats), made necessary by the creation of a new, state-of-the-art projection room on the former balcony. The balcony’s original folding seats will be removed and preserved.
“For certain events, especially the Luxembourg City Film Festival, we need at least 180 seats,” notes Bildgen. “That’s how the idea for a second screening room in the inner courtyard emerged.” The new hall, with 177 seats, plus 6 wheelchair-accessible spaces, will be partially buried to maintain the courtyard’s green, tranquil character.
As a film museum, the Cinémathèque will also showcase its archives, posters, equipment and other artefacts, supporting its expanding educational mission. “The renovation will include a dedicated children’s workshop space on Rue Willy Goergen to meet the growing demand from schools,” Bildgen adds.
Renovating a heritage site is one challenge; responding to the city’s broader urban requirements is another. The municipality asked the team to create a pedestrian link between Place du Théâtre and Rue Willy Goergen, currently connected only by indirect side streets. The new passage will cross the former convent garden where archaeologists are now excavating and have already uncovered part of an original fortress wall.
The building’s stained-glass windows, some of which had been concealed for decades, will be restored and displayed more prominently. In the future, visitors will once again be able to let natural light fill the historic screening room.
The renovations extend beyond the building itself. Place du Théâtre, the south-facing square at its entrance, is also set for an upgrade and “could eventually host open-air screenings,” says Ramponi. “It’s not just the building,it’s the entire surroundings.”
During the closure, the Cinémathèque is hosting screenings at Théâtre des Capucins and Cercle Cité, both iconic venues, though without the singular charm of the Cinémathèque. “The building contributes enormously to the atmosphere, and people are sad to see it closed,” Bildgen admits.
Yet the project is in expert hands. As Fabeck puts it: “It’s a big opportunity and a privilege. Our aim is to preserve the spirit of the Cinémathèque, its details, proportions and atmosphere, while innovating.”
Cinémathèque_©FABECK Architectes
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