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EUROPE IN BRUSSELS

The Europa building represents a new landmark in Europe and Bordered by 28 masts bearing the flags of all EU Member
in Brussels, not just as an individual building but also as part of States, the esplanade is set to become a public space in the
the “European quarter”. This section of the city centred on the heart of the European quarter. Austere yet friendly, citizens are
Schuman roundabout has been greatly transformed in the course expected to espouse it, bringing life to the neighbourhood in the
of the last few decades, and has now come to symbolise Europe. form of civic or cultural events, or simply friendly get-togethers.
However, the general opinion is that the quarter lacks identity Belvedere, gallery, agora or esplanade, numerous positive
and that its public spaces do not match its symbolic status. symbolic associations are conceivable.
At the heart of this monofunctional office area, the Schuman
roundabout is deserted outside office hours, although all PLANTING TREES ON THE SCHUMAN ROUNDABOUT
realistically feasible measures are now being taken to increase the
quarter’s functional mix. To the west, the Cinquantenaire tunnel The impression of austerity exuded by the Schuman
exit road constitutes a wide barrier separating the Commission’s roundabout could be greatly reduced through the presence
buildings (Berlaymont, Charlemagne) from those of the Council of trees and shrubs.
(Justus Lipsius, Europa, Lex).
However, surrounded by magnificent buildings, visited every However, the space available on the ground is limited and
day by thousands of citizens, filmed nearly every day by camera the space under the ground is riddled by traffic arteries. The
crews from all over the world, this strategic location deserves at idea is thus to plant at a height. One often sees this these days
least an outstanding place in Brussels’ urban landscape. in the form of “green walls”, but these are little more than a
The ongoing development of the Europa building gives rise, planted skin added to a facade. More ambitious, the aim of the
as a modest citizen contribution, to two ideas for urban projects project is to create a new public space formed by two aerial
that could help reduce the identity deficit of the Schuman walkways at two different levels, equipped with linking stairs and
roundabout and perhaps even that of the European institutions. supplemented by large oak trees planted in hemispherical basins
5 metres in diameter. This project goes hand in hand with the
THE EUROPE-LOI ESPLANADE replacement of the existing tinted windows of the Justus Lipsius
building with ultra-clear glazing. A large net made of high-
Extending the mainly pedestrian esplanade between the transparency stainless steel encloses the whole project, ensuring
Berlaymont (the seat of the European Commission) and the the safety of its users, while giving the facade a translucent
Justus Lipsius building (the home of the European Council), appearance.
the project envisages covering over the road tunnel’s approach
shaft up to the western end of the Europa building in the form
of an esplanade 12 metres wide and 210 metres long. Rising to
cover the shaft, the esplanade will have stairs on both sides of
the road to connect it to the existing levels of the Rue de la Loi,
transformed into shared areas. These stairs will allow pedestrians
to walk over from the Commission to the Council. Acting as
both stages and terraces, they are also intended as an area for
relaxation and dialogue. They are interspersed by circular roof
lights providing natural lighting to the Schumann Metro station
under the tunnel. At its western end, the esplanade is flanked by
two lifts, providing access for disabled people.