I thought you might like to see some of the landmarks of Brussels. The architecture in this city is helter-skelter. Over the past two centuries, the urban planning has not been coordinated and so one finds a bit of everything everywhere. One French author calls Brussels "une ville traumatisée" from an architectural point of view. However, things are changing and every building must now pass through an urban planning committee: the deciding factor is "architecture" and not "engineering". For example, all the new skyscrapers being built, are different in shape but are all of glass: they reflect the sky and the clouds, making them seem lighter.
This is the Dexia skyscraper. You can see what I mean by being all of glass. There are others like it around it.
This is the Berlyamont building of the European Union - again, glass. It's in a cruciform shape and its facade is covered with glass louvres which move automatically to regulate temperature and reduce glaze.
These are the Belgacom Towers, headquarters of the Belgian Telephone Company, taken on one of the many grey days here.
Les Galeries du Roi - an elegant mall with a glass roof - built by King Leopold II. And there are some affordable shops in it! Life here is relatively cheaper than Paris or London.
The contours, footprint and volume of the steel and glass structure mimic those of the 17th century chapel of Les Brigittines beside it. I love the idea of paying homage to something beautiful that is already there.
The narrow elliptical shape of the rectorate building on the campus of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) where I take my Flemish courses. No room in it has 90-degree angles! I have my written Flemish exam today and my oral on Monday......
Glaverbel - a circular building named after the Belgian glass manufacturer for which it was designed and accordingly, the facade is covered in a curtain of tinted windows. You can see the reflection of the surrounding trees in the windows.
CBR administrative offices (cement company) - the bronze glass mirrored windows reflect the suburban location and leave the facade uncluttered. Rather unique!
The Atomium - Brussels' Eiffel Tower - the centrepiece of Expo '58. The design was based on an iron molecule magnified 165 billion times, with each globe representing an atom. There are escalators along the linking tubes.
St. Augustine Church, in Place de l'Altitude Cent, the highest point in Brussels (100 m.). Not a very pretty church (made out of concrete) but it is a city landmark. And the square it's built in is not very elevated so you can see that Brussels, in spite of its 'hills', is quite flat.
Le Paquebot jaune, or The Yellow Steamship, as Brussellers like to call it, is a cultural arts centre on Place Flagey. Haven't been there yet but hope to before I leave. Another grey day....
The Basilica of Sts-Michel-et-Gudule by night. This is the church in which the royal family is married, christened and buried. It sits in the heart of Brussels and is very beautiful inside. During the summer, the park outside is filled with people taking their lunch break.
La Porte de Hal, the only remaining fortified city gate from the Middle Ages. Built in 1381, it was a gate in the second set of defensive walls around Brussels.
An outstanding example of the 'Art nouveau" style. It used to be a store called "Old England" that sold British goods but today it is a beautiful museum of musical instruments. Still to be visited!
The Koekelberg Cathedral, the largest church in Brussels, can be seen from all over Brussels. It is a huge church on a 'hill' that regularly holds beautiful art exhibits.....but it is also used as a church for mass on Saturdays and Sundays.
And last but definitely not least, le Palais de Justice with its gilded dome topped by a crown. Again, this was the work of Leopold II, a megalomanic. The building is gigantic and always under some kind of repair. No one around has ever seen it without scaffolding of some sort (I took the picture at an angle that covers most of the scaffolding). And no one today really knows how to use this white elephant. I have to admit, though, that it is very impressive.
And so this is another aspect of this beautiful, enticing city called Brussels that is my home for a year. One of my joys is to wander around the city without an agenda, and take pictures of whatever interests me. I'm surprised at how much I love living in a city. I never thought I'd say that, coming from the suburbs. But living 'downtown' means living close to so many interesting things to do and see, and public transportation takes me relatively quickly all over the city. And my sidestreet is relatively quiet.
Hmmm........
Great photos!
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