Luxembourg Tramway Design : Architecture Information

19 Mar 2009 LIFSCHUTZ DAVIDSON SANDILANDS WINS EUROPEAN COMPETITION Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS) has won a major European competition, to be the architects and urban designers for a new tramway called Luxtram in the City of Luxembourg. Commenting on the result the Mayor of Luxembourg said: "This project will have an impact on the city's image that will propel us into a different league." Picture : view south along Avenue de La Liberté of Place de Martyrs (tram) stop The competition brief requested a clear identity for the tramway and significant improvements to the public realm. The scope of the project includes upgrading public squares and enhancing the main boulevard along which the tram runs, new hard and soft landscaping, bespoke street furniture and lighting, purpose designed tram and bus shelters. All these elements are designed specifically for the City of Luxembourg and seamlessly integrate the public transport system into the historic city centre. LDS’ winning scheme on widened central boulevards along the tram route has been praised for the way it de-clutters the public space, rendering it more open, accessible and permeable. “’As well as radically improving the experience of public transport in Luxembourg, our design returns the boulevards along the central spine of the city to active street life, with a far better environment for pedestrians and cyclists’’ says Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands’ director Alex Lifschutz. LDS, who are also the designers of the Geo range of street furniture manufactured by Woodhouse plc in the UK, created an elegant and coherent system of paving, shelters, street furniture (benches, bins, barriers etc) and lighting. Announcing the winner, Luxtram’s project management team said the scheme would elegantly integrate with the urban landscape “thanks to its calm design and simple materials which respect the country's historical heritage." LDS is known for its creation of successful public spaces and pedestrian bridges in areas such as London’s South Bank In Luxembourg the practice has designed a scheme that enhances the existing cityscape, increasing its appeal and its capacity for commerce and recreation. LDS collaborated on the design with integratedPlace, a Luxembourg based design consultancy that specialises in information and way finding systems. LDS and integratedPlace worked together to streamline the plans for the tramway’s public information systems and signage. Steer Davis Gleeve advised on trams and highways, Techniker on structures and Speirs and Major on lighting. Davis Langdon provided information on costs. Trams continue to be widely revived in European cities whilst in London two major tram projects, the West London Tram Scheme and the Cross River Tram Scheme, have been shelved. Construction has, however, started on a new tram system for Edinburgh, which is due for completion in 2011. Previously: 19 Feb 2009 Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands joint winner in European competition to design new tramway for City of Luxembourg The competition brief called for a design that would create a strong identity for the tramway whilst ensuring its positive integration into the urban surroundings. The competition was organised by LuxTram, the partnership between the City of Luxembourg and the Government of the Grand-Duchy formed to develop the tramline. Of the sixteen architects that initially responded to the brief, only five were chosen to compete. Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands now have a further three weeks to flesh out their designs for the central portion of the tramline which includes 13 stops between Gare Centrale and LuxExpo. The design focuses on the opportunity that the new tramline presents to enhance the cityscape through the re-organisation of public space and roads, and the creation of new street furniture. At the beginning of March, LuxTram will review the more detailed designs submitted by each of the joint winners, and select a final winner to take forward the scheme. Although the original tramline no longer exists, trams are part of the history of Luxembourg. Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands' design has been inspired by city's rich heritage of trams and public transport, as well as the country's history in iron and steel production. The practice was able to draw its long experience in transport and public urban space projects. LDS is one of three architects invited to put forward designs for a new concourse in front of Waterloo station - the designs for which were made public last month. ''As well as radically improving public transport in Luxembourg, this is a marvelous opportunity to return the boulevards along the central spine of the city to pedestrians and active street life'' says Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands partner Alex Lifschutz. LDS is collaborating with integratedPlace, a Luxembourg based design group specialising in information design and way finding systems The joint winner, alongside LDS, was Metaform + Atelier 4D architecture et urbanisme + Xavier Lust. Luxembourg Tramway Design - Professional Team Speirs & Major Lighting Design Techniker Structural Engineer Steer Davies Gleave Transport/public realm/pedestrian permeability services Davis Langdon Quantity Surveyor integratedPlace Information + wayfinding Luxembourg Tramway Design information received 190209