Atomium
Sign in to saveThe Atomium ( , , ) is a landmark modernist building in Brussels, Belgium, originally constructed as the centrepiece of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58). Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and the architects André and Jean Polak as a tribute to scientific progress, as well as to symbolise Belgian engineering skills at the time, it is located on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Laeken (northern part of the City of Brussels), where the exhibition took place. It is the city's most popular tourist attraction, and serves as a museum, an art centre and a cultural destination.
AI overview
The Atomium is a modernist landmark building in Brussels, Belgium, built for the 1958 World's Fair as a symbol of scientific progress and Belgian engineering. Today it is Brussels's most visited tourist attraction and functions as a museum, art center, and cultural venue.
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Key facts
- Building.name
- Atomium
- Building.image
- Brussels - Atomium 2022.jpg
- Building.caption
- General view of the Atomium
- Building.address
- / 1
- Building.location_town
- 1020 Laeken, City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
- Building.location_country
- Belgium
- Building.status
- Open
- Building.architectural_style
- Modernism
- Building.renovation_date
- 2004–2006
- Building.architect
- André and Jean Polak
- Building.engineer
- André Waterkeyn
- Building.ren_firm
- Jacques Delens and BESIX
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Naming
- History
- Inception and construction
- Expo 58 and posterity
- Renovation (2004–2006)
- Usage
- Worldwide copyright claims
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- External links
The Atomium ( , , ) is a landmark modernist building in Brussels, Belgium, originally constructed as the centrepiece of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58). Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and the architects André and Jean Polak as a tribute to scientific progress, as well as to symbolise Belgian engineering skills at the time, it is located on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Laeken (northern part of the City of Brussels), where the exhibition took place. It is the city's most popular tourist attraction, and serves as a museum, an art centre and a cultural destination.
The Atomium stands tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Belgium. Its nine , stainless-steel-clad spheres are connected in the shape of a unit cell that could represent an iron crystal (BCC crystal structure) magnified 165 billion times. Steel tubes connecting the spheres enclose stairs, escalators and a lift (in the central, vertical tube) to allow access to the six visitable spheres, which contain exhibit halls and other public spaces. The top sphere includes a restaurant with a panoramic view of Brussels. The building was completely renovated between 2004 and 2006 by the companies Jacques Delens and BESIX.