The learning center, as the University of Luxembourg library is called, is located on its new campus in Belval, on the site of a former steel plant, once the largest in the country. We have already written about the main building of this university built there.
This plant became at the beginning of the XXI century one of the most important conversion projects in Europe, in addition to the university, a shopping center, housing and offices, parks, a museum and a concert hall appeared there. The industrial heritage, including two blast furnaces, has been restored and enhanced with thoughtful landscaping, lighting systems designed by Ingo Maurer, small-scale architecture on the verge of sculpture and “real” works of art.
The training center of Valentiny Hvp Architects bureau may well compete with public art with its unusual appearance. Basically it is a completely utilitarian parallelepiped, a former ore storage silo at the foot of Blast Furnace B. But today its pragmatic form is hidden behind a façade of triangular panels with silk-screen marble patterns. Even its flat parts look very impressive, but the western, three-dimensional side with "pyramids" makes a special impression. Inside, the combination of transparent and matte panels creates a soft play of light and shadow.
Volumetric panels are made using shipbuilding technology using several layers of fiberglass. This made it possible to achieve a high level of insulation and strength, as well as to avoid the need for special "care". Silk-screen printing at the same time protects the interior from the heat of the sun and prevents the facade from heating up.
Inside, the industrial past of the building is perfectly read, its structure is open and even emphasized. The hall is more than 100 meters long, cut by a "plateau" of floors with study and reading areas and shelving. A free plan and comfortable natural lighting (lamellas on the ceiling are responsible for acoustic comfort) are combined with a restrained color in gray tones.
The three-part administration volume from the west and the oval vestibule from the east are visually immediately distinguishable as new additions to the main "marble" volume.
