Designed Delicacy: Luxembourg’s Elegant Cultural Projects

While Luxembourg stands as one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe, the country boasts a thriving economy and culture. With a population totaling just over half a million, Luxembourg reported the world’s highest GDP per capita last year. This dynamic has driven the country’s architecture and development, a condition that’s led cities to embrace contemporary buildings and modern approaches. The country’s capital, Luxembourg City, was named a European Capital of Culture and a World Heritage Site over 20 years ago, designations that helped spark new architecture throughout the country. With notable works by I.M. Pei, Roger Taillibert, Christian de Portzamparc, and others, Luxembourg now holds many unique cultural and civic projects.

Drawing together a selection of Luxembourg’s most elegant cultural designs, the following collection juxtaposes intimate spaces and immense volumes. Created with meticulous craft and clean, legible surfaces, the projects were constructed to serve local communities, national audiences, and international assemblies. Often placed among historic contexts, the projects balance heritage and urban development. Largely designed to serve the public, these spaces establish powerful relationships between visibility, envelope, and structure. They become important landmarks within their respective cities and towns. Collectively, the projects embody the country’s current building trends, as well as how to add a dash of designed delicacy.

Mondercange by Bruck + Weckerle Architekten, Mondercange, Luxembourg

This intimate project was designed as a simple structure providing public space within the town of Mondercange. A lightweight, colorful roof rises above the metal framework below. The space is surrounded by a number of outdoor areas and in-between spaces for reflection and congregation.

Centre Guillaume II Luxembourg – New “Bierger-Center” by STEINMETZDEMEYER architects, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

The new Bierger-Center was created to house public administration space. Sited along a historic street in the heart of Old Town, the project included the rehabilitation of various historic buildings on-site. The design balances heritage and context, as well as history and symbolism without sacrificing its visibility.

Cultural and Community Centre in Bergem by Bruck + Weckerle Architekten, Bergem, Luxembourg

Designed as a new cultural center for Bergem, this project centers on a majestic 80-year-old walnut tree. Surrounding the symbolic tree, the design provides meeting space within the core of the village. A low, rectangular volume covers the plot, while a semicircular recess was carved out of the geometry, thus allowing a transitional zone between outdoor and indoor space.

Centre de Conférences by SchemelWirtz Architectes, Kirchberg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Sited in Luxembourg City, this conference center was made as a plateau with various volumes penetrating the roof surface. An existing 24-story high-rise provides a vertical accentuation to the project. Spaces are enclosed by an overlapping roof and glass hall.

Château d’Eau à Leudelange by SchemelWirtz Architectes, Leudelange, Luxembourg

The Château d’Eau à Leudelange was designed as a landmark water tower. Formally, the project was designed as a series of concrete cubes that are clearly legible. Glass surfaces were used to create a contrast with the concrete and establish a unique illumination at night.

La Maison du Savoir by be baumschlager eberle, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Created as a “House of Knowledge,” this large project was designed with a vertically and horizontally elongated structure. Programmatically, the building includes catering facilities, lecture halls, offices, and seminar rooms. Recalling the site’s history and its large steel production, the building matches the dimensions of the former steel furnaces, while pre-stressed concrete was used to create a floating sensation from the second floor upwards.

Court of Justice of the European Union by Dominique Perrault Architecte, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Created to provide more space for the Court and harmonize earlier building additions, the Court of Justice was designed to address urban, functional, and institutional challenges. Housing space for over 2,000 occupants, the new plan included a scheme to bring together different functions and formal relationships. Unifying the original building, previous additions, and the new project, Perrault reinforced the institution’s symbolic importance.

Aalt Stadhaus Differdange by witry & witry architecture urbanisme, Differdange, Luxembourg

Transforming the original town hall, this new cultural center was designed as both a renovation and addition to the former building. Creating a landmark for the city, the project merges old and new to establish harmony. Programmatically, the design includes a music school, offices, café, library, and multi-purpose hall.

Author: Eric Baldwin

Based in New York City, Eric was trained in both architecture and communications. As Director of Communications at Sasaki, he has a background spanning media, academia, and practice. He's deeply committed to trying as many restaurants as possible in NYC.