I’ve been in Brussels for a short holiday. Although I’ve heard a lot of descriptions on its chaotic look, I was still amazed with the image of the “Capital of Europe”. It resembles a post apocalyptic city still struggling for its re-edification. An indescribable architectural mess built on centuries of juxtaposed history. But, don’t get me wrong… I loved it!...and actually it’s quite interesting to realise that the “Bruxellois” seem don’t be bothered with whatever you think about their hometown.
After a couple of days of staring to Gothic cathedrals and churches, Neoclassical institutional buildings and Art Nouveaux and Art Deco masterpieces (some of them in a great state of decay) I joined the pilgrimage to the Atomium, the national icon from the Expo 58 recently renovated. I didn’t dare to get inside since the cue was quite extensive. There was a bright sunny day, so instead I was wondering around taking pictures. The Atomium is the only architectural piece that remained in the original site. Some of the buildings survived the exhibition by being relocated to different places and most were just demolished. It’s a shame that such a wonder of the “modern “ zeitgeist was lost forever.
Back home, I could finally watch a DVD with 165mn of archive material from the Expo 58, bought at the Atomium shop, a treasure!…it’s a pity though that it doesn’t give any special notice on the Philips Pavilion, a project by Le Corbusier in collaboration with composer Edgar Varese and composer and architect Iannis Xenakis. A visionary concept converging form, colour, light, image and sound in a multimedia piece called “Poeme électronique”.
After a couple of days of staring to Gothic cathedrals and churches, Neoclassical institutional buildings and Art Nouveaux and Art Deco masterpieces (some of them in a great state of decay) I joined the pilgrimage to the Atomium, the national icon from the Expo 58 recently renovated. I didn’t dare to get inside since the cue was quite extensive. There was a bright sunny day, so instead I was wondering around taking pictures. The Atomium is the only architectural piece that remained in the original site. Some of the buildings survived the exhibition by being relocated to different places and most were just demolished. It’s a shame that such a wonder of the “modern “ zeitgeist was lost forever.
Back home, I could finally watch a DVD with 165mn of archive material from the Expo 58, bought at the Atomium shop, a treasure!…it’s a pity though that it doesn’t give any special notice on the Philips Pavilion, a project by Le Corbusier in collaboration with composer Edgar Varese and composer and architect Iannis Xenakis. A visionary concept converging form, colour, light, image and sound in a multimedia piece called “Poeme électronique”.