The gestation period of the urban tram network through Luxembourg City will last a little longer than expected. The architecture competition launched last year by GIE Luxtram to choose a design concept ended in stalemate after the jury decided last Friday to award two second prizes. One of the projects that has been retained stems from the renowned London based bureau of Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Island Studio, working together with Luxembourg consultancy Integrated Place. The other is from the association of Groupement Metaforme + Atelier 4D architecture et urbanisme + Xavier Lust designer from Belgium. A total of 16 groups had originally entered the competition. The two “winning” projects were chosen from a short list of five architect offices asked to submit their plans to the jury. The final winner will be announced at the beginning of March.

Integrated Place has helped design the interior of public spaces such as the Le Cité library and socio-cultural centre, modular signage information systems for the Service des Sites et Monuments Nationaux and acted as a consultant for several user experience aspects of the their Hotcity Wifi network project. For the tram project the Luxembourg bureau served as a local consultant for Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Island Studio, providing the London architects with local cultural specific ideas and advice for its design concept. Everything from the materials used for street furniture to the ticketing and signage has been thought about in detail. “You cannot separate the architecture from what the user requires,” says Georges Zigrand of Integrated Place. “The competition asked the architects to lead the visual solutions to the new cityscape, but we took a more holistic approach.” The projects can be viewed at the Tramways museum (rue de Bouillon in Hollerich) until 1 March.