Balls of Belgium

Belgium’s kitschy national landmark, the Atomium, reopens today after an 18 month restoration. Originally built for the 1958 World Fair it represents an iron crystal molecule at 165 billion times its actual size. It was never destined as a permanent structure, but remained an eye-catcher of the Brussels skyline ever since.

For years, however, this icon of 1950s optimism—and a celebration of the atom age—just stood there as part of the landscape but without any real identity. It was supposed to be a tourist attraction, but visitor’s figures dropped every year and its framework rapidly deteriorated. Eventually it became unsafe and calls for final demolition alternated with various wild suggestions for new functions—from casinos to a Tintin museum.

Finally, it was decided the Atomium wouldn’t work as anything else but a self-contained, individual edifice and the 27.5 million Euro facelift was approved. The nine globes now boast a space for art exhibitions, an observation gallery, a children’s sphere (with molecule-like structure representing H²O—symbolic for Belgium’s rainy weather—by Spanish artist Alicia Framis) meeting rooms, a party space and a retro restaurant.

Although I have never been inside its nine 18 meter spheres, I have always liked its strange, retro-futuristic look—like something from the Jetsons. And with its 102 meters height it is actually rather an impressive sight. I have no idea how well known this 1950s relic actually is abroad. It doesn’t have the elegance of the Eiffel tower, the mystery of a leaning tower, or the potency of the Statue of Liberty. And even the London Eye seems to have become as much part of that city as its Houses of Parliament or the double-decker buses. I hope we’ll be seriously promoting it this time around though—it does seem to appeal to people. Maybe we could put it on our Euro coins, instead of the rather boring profile of the King that is on every one of them.

From the images I’ve seen, the Balls of Belgium look terrific once more. Its architect, André Waterkeyn, sadly died four months ago, but he would have liked the renewed interest in his work (originally the Expo 58 organizers wanted to erect an upside down miniature of the Eiffel Tower, but he came up with the atom idea and saved us of from international derision). Today, the Atomium is everywhere: on magazine covers, television shows and on the fuselages of SN Brussels Airlines. So if you get the chance to see it, don’t miss it. I will now certainly be going as soon as I get the cance.