Great balls of steel

26 February 2006

The Atomium: Belgium’s refurbished symbol of hope has opened again to visitors, writes Jon Eldridge. The 102-meter-high Atomium was an emblem of Belgium’s hope for the future when it was built for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels.  But the nine giant balls of steel and aluminum eventually tarnished along with the country’s goal of becoming the commercial hub of Europe. Now the Atomium has undergone a EUR 27.5 million refurbishment, and the architects hope it again becomes a symbol of Belgium’s aspirations. Local politicians are even comparing the monument to the Eiffel Tower. They’re not without some justification.  The nine spheres of the Atomium – one for each of the country’s regions – were designed to symbolise progress through science and innovation, and they became a huge tourist draw during what’s often called Belgium’s “golden sixties.”  That was the era when many top U.S. international companies, including Exxon Mobil Chemical, Monsanto, Pfizer and Procter & Gamble located in the country. Atomium bombed But as the lustre of the spheres dimmed, so did Belgium’s ability to attract investment. A recent survey shows that the country has fallen from fifth to tenth place on the list of most popular destinations for U.S. investors in the EU. Renovation on the Atomium began in March 2004, and the spheres now shine again on the Brussels horizon. Mayor Freddy Thielemans grew misty-eyed at a recent press conference held inside one of the spheres.  The Atomium, reopened on 18 February 2006, now appears more “fairytale” than he remembered when he was young, Thielemans said. Certainly, the Atomium’s new sparkling sheen is immediately apparent, but renovation of the structure has not been limited to the exterior. The spheres have been completely refurbished, and a new pavilion is being constructed that will be open in May. The new entrance area and foyer have been designed to make it easier to process more visitors. “Belgium is very anxious to go there. Everyone is asking when can we go there?” says architect Christine Conix, whose company was selected for the renovation work. Conix came up with the idea of creating a new pavilion to the side of the existing entrance. It was not part of the original planning, and the Atomium's reopening has taken place in advance of it’s completion. “Everyone is very proud of the interior, and they don’t want to wait another few months to show the rest of the world,” says architect Sylvie Bruyninckx, who has worked extensively on the project for Conix, Conix’s Antwerp-based architectural firm was one of more than dozen companies invited to submit bids for the renovation work. It initially came up with a grid of 99 images that the firm felt summed up the emotions associated with the building. As part of the second phase of the selection process, the company submitted its idea for the pavilion and found the Atomium renovation committee sympathetic to its plan. “We were completely free to design what we wanted. We wanted to respect the previous design, but we made a contemporary design with a touch of the 50s,” says Bruyninckx. One of the spheres contains an exhibition celebrating the work of the original architect, André Waterkeyn, who died in October of last year. Conix’s team was eager to respect his ideas. “You can’t just make a contemporary new building without any connection to the original design. It has to do with the shapes. By using curved corners you go back to the 50s,” Bruyninckx says. Atomium heart mother A key element of the architects’ plans, however, was to achieve a smoother integration of the structure with its surroundings. The Atomium is located near the King Baudouin sports stadium and the Brussels Expo exhibition halls.  As architect Bruyninckx explains it, “In every big city you have an icon, and they always create something around it to give it more strength, and here the Atomium is isolated. So we wanted to give it more dignity, not only to the building itself but also to its surroundings.” One way the designers believe they have accomplished this goal has been to improve the access to the building, the roundabout that surrounds it and the adjacent Parc Osseghem. Henri Simons, chairman of the nonprofit organization that oversees renovation, has defended the large price tag by pointing to the importance of the Atomium to the local economy. The Kinepolis multiplex cinema and the Brupark shopping/restaurant area are close by. One of the spheres will be available to organisations that want to rent it for conferences and meetings. Whilst the presence of a restaurant on the top sphere will be familiar to previous visitors, contemporary art exhibitions are a promised new feature. Belgian painter and installation artist Jean-Luc Moerman will be the first artist to enjoy a six-month exhibition. In fact, Conix’s team was so eager for visitors to feel that they are inside a ball that they pulled down the original plywood interiors and emphasized curved surfaces. Still, only time will tell whether visitors feel like they’re inside a symbol of a shiny future or gazing a monument that may again become tarnished. A version of this article was originally published in the Wall Street Journal Europe.

 

< Prev		Next >