Architectour

24 Architectour.lu © OAI 2018 al venues often feature more refined architecture and have become major regional exchange hubs. The decision taken in 2003 to cre- ate a university presented something of a unique challenge in a country with no higher education tradition, but the government at the time understood that the future would depend on the estab- lishment of knowledge societies, and the creation of a university would serve as an economic catalyst for its environ- ment. The University of Luxembourg opened its Belval campus in 2015 fol- lowing a development project involving former industrial sites that was one of Europe’s most ambitious urban projects. The challenge of managing growth In light of this dynamism, the issue of how to best use the land available and the corresponding resources is a matter of urgency, and it is important that the appropriate political action be taken. The living conditions of the population need to be constantly improved, the en- vironment and historical heritage must be protected and housing has to pro- vide the best possible living conditions. Governments and municipal authorities work tirelessly to develop increasingly high-performance tools and instru- ments designed to allow for the qualita- tive growth of the economy, whilst at the same time protecting quality of life for the purposes of social cohesion. 6. University of Luxembourg, Esch-Belval