Luxembourg: Connecting the Dots

Submitted by Kristina Newton on the 2020 winter session program in Luxembourg sponsored by the Department of Materials Science, the Department of Physics and the Department of History…

We started our journey in Luxembourg by starting school after a long day of traveling the previous day. I was stunned by the architecture at the University of Luxembourg when we took the train one stop to the campus. They created academic buildings that appeared new and innovative while also incorporating aspects of Luxembourg culture and history. When we arrived on campus, I was immediately drawn to what looked like a factory in the middle of the university. We learned from our history professor that the factory was still functional once a month and signified the industrial manufacturing of steel and other metals within Luxembourg.

While exploring the campus, we found a cute place with coffee and food that can be taken to go. The store appeared innovative and new, but when we looked up, we saw that the store had been built right into the side of the factory with old concrete and features giving the store an industrial feel. The old structures around campus have been left and new buildings and structures built around it. The library was created from an old industrial building with the original foundation left and new innovative features added like triangular windows and a variety of study areas such as colorful cubes for studying alone to group study areas with comfy colorful couches. Another example is the use of the old train tracks that were used to take finished materials from the factories. These structures had been left, some without being changed while a few posts added large light boxes to the top for a streetlight at night.

In addition, inside the building where we attended class, our history professor explained that the widespread use of concrete in the building was used to connect to the roots of manufacturing within Luxembourg. From this, I was able to appreciate the architecture on a deeper level since I know saw the connection between the architecture and the culture and history of Luxembourg. Since I am taking materials science in Luxembourg this winter, I really enjoy being able to see the different uses for materials throughout the university.

The factory in the middle of the University of Luxembourg campus.
A view of campus with the factory, library and remnants of the old train tracks.
An outdoor light made from train track posts on the campus.
The Cottetes store on campus with take-out food. The whole back wall is the original part of the building, most likely where materials were poured out of the factory through the slides.
The library at the University of Luxembourg with the original industrial beam structures. The library is 5 floors and pictured is the -2 floor with the lighted bookshelves and single study spaces in colorful cubes.
Windows in the library are tinted to prevent people outside the library looking in for added privacy while studying, while allowing enough open glass for the view from inside the library to outside to be unobstructed.