The Royal Roosevelt House: A renovation in harmony with the centuries
BGL BNP Paribas has just completed the restoration of three historic 19th-century villas for its Private Banking division. Located in the heart of Luxembourg’s Ville Haute, the Servais House and its two adjacent buildings now form an architectural ensemble renamed Royal Roosevelt House. Beyond an architectural project, this is above all a beautiful story of heritage preservation, reflecting the Group’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding historical landmarks and its deep-rooted presence in Luxembourg for over a century.
Preserving the Memory of a Place
The origins of BGL BNP Paribas date back to 29 September 1919, with the establishment of Banque Générale du Luxembourg by Société Générale de Belgique. This founding took place in a post-First World War context that fostered the growth of the banking sector.
Like BGL BNP Paribas, the three houses of the Royal Roosevelt House—built starting in 1891—stand as witnesses to a transformative era in Luxembourg’s history.
Strategically located between Boulevard Royal, Boulevard Roosevelt, and Rue Notre-Dame, this ensemble is rooted in the “Ville Haute” district, shaped by the removal of the city’s former fortifications.
Among these buildings, the Maison Servais was designed in 1893 by architect Pierre Funck for Émile Servais-Majerus, an engineer, industrialist, and politician. While its elegant façade has endured through the decades, the house required extensive renovation work.
Owner of the three historic houses since the 1960s, Banque Générale du Luxembourg—now BGL BNP Paribas—had allocated them to various activities over the years.
This ensemble long hosted the bank’s operational teams and later the Lux Future Lab, a startup incubator whose activities ceased in early 2021.
Aware of their heritage value, the Bank launched a reflection on their future in 2022, leading to collaboration with a project management team to restore these buildings and give them a new purpose.
The renovation work preserved and restored original period features, including:
- The original stained glass, staircases, and wrought-iron work;
- The decorative wooden floors, ceilings, and baseboards.
These buildings are nationally listed: they cannot be demolished, and any work affecting their historic exterior or interior elements must be undertaken with the approval of the Ministry of Culture. On-site investigations, including careful excavation, revealed preserved traces within the structures. Research into archival photographs and historical drawings helped discover missing or deeply altered elements.
All existing historical features—doors, moldings, dormer windows, and wrought-iron work—were preserved and either renovated or fully restored.
To meet this challenge, solutions included recreating a long-lost wooden staircase, removing plaster to uncover an original wall painting, and highlighting the beauty of the ornate ceilings.
By replacing a former mineral forecourt with gardens inspired by the historic villas of Boulevard Royal, the project introduces a breath of greenery into a highly mineralised urban environment.
Additionally, the restored sculptures by Philippe Hiquily (1925–2013) now grace this newly reimagined garden, where the vegetation has been completely redesigned.
Today, these gardens bring a sense of openness, softness, and even a rediscovered elegance to the space between the public area and the buildings.
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Borders were recreated to evoke the original design,
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Borders were recreated to evoke the original design,
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while the restored sculptures now enhance this newly landscaped garden.”
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while the restored sculptures now enhance this newly landscaped garden.”
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Over time, colorful, graphic ground-cover plantings
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Over time, colorful, graphic ground-cover plantings
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and rose gardens will soften and transform this mineral space.
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and rose gardens will soften and transform this mineral space.
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Bourgeois Elegance Adapted to Modern Demands
Restoring these historic townhouses required a delicate balance: preserving their original character while seamlessly integrating today’s technical standards. From security and energy efficiency to accessibility and acoustic insulation, every detail was carefully considered to blend heritage with modernity—aligning with BREEAM criteria for future « Refurbishment and Fit Out » certification.
One of the greatest challenges was incorporating the operational needs of a banking institution—alongside current safety, accessibility, and comfort standards—without compromising the buildings’ historical integrity.
Every intervention followed a simple principle: adapt without altering the essence.
To achieve this, the bank collaborated closely with Fabeck Architectes, the City of Luxembourg, and the National Institute for Architectural Heritage.
Integrating modern systems—such as suspended ceilings, technical ducts, ventilation, cooling, and sprinklers—into the constrained historic volumes posed a major challenge.”
Every component was installed with the utmost discretion to minimize its impact on original features and preserve the architectural integrity of the spaces.
It was a task of meticulous precision—like fine lacework.
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Wood fiber insulation
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Wood fiber insulation
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Routing of technical modules through the roof opening
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Routing of technical modules through the roof opening
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Wiring and heating systems integrated within the historic fabric
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Wiring and heating systems integrated within the historic fabric
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Reusing existing furniture, prioritizing restoration over replacement where feasible, and integrating cutting-edge technical solutions demonstrate a firm commitment to building with respect for sustainable development.
In the same spirit, the inclusion of artworks from the bank’s collection adds an extra dimension to these spaces. It underscores that these places are more than just functional—they are vessels of culture, memory, and meaning.
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Light fixtures and furniture were recovered from BGL BNP Paribas’ former headquarters
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Light fixtures and furniture were recovered from BGL BNP Paribas’ former headquarters
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including Murano glass chandeliers acquired in the 2000s.
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including Murano glass chandeliers acquired in the 2000s.
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The History of Murano Glass
Murano’s reputation as a global hub for glassmaking dates back to 1291, when the Republic of Venice—fearing fires—ordered the relocation of foundries to the island.”
For centuries, Murano’s glassmakers maintained a monopoly on innovative techniques (such as crystal, enamel, millefiori, and lattimo), many of which are still practiced today
A Living Heritage
The Royal Roosevelt House is more than a banking headquarters—it is a project designed with future generations in mind.
Indeed, it was essential that the three houses could one day regain full autonomy if needed, allowing for new purposes to be imagined in the future.
With this vision in mind, a new staircase was created in the Maison Servais, precisely where the original historic staircase once stood.
Beyond its banking function, the Royal Roosevelt House is destined to become a showcase for BGL BNP Paribas’ artistic heritage.
« It’s not just new offices that are opening, but also new opportunities, both for our employees and for the clients who place their trust in us. The relocation of our teams to Sekoia, the new BGL BNP Paribas headquarters in Kirchberg, and the establishment of Private Banking Luxembourg at a location that is steeped in history, reaffirm our conviction that the bank of tomorrow is built by those who work there every day. At Royal Roosevelt House- as is the case across the bank and the Group as a whole – we will continue to align local expertise with an international outlook in support of every project. »
— Nicolas Otton, Head of Territory for Luxembourg and Chairman of the Executive Committee at BGL BNP Paribas
Photos: ©Aude de Maynard-Sauvion
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