Cultural temples

Flagey, the former Institut National de Radiodiffusion, NIR (National Institute of Broadcasting): A "beautiful factory of sound"

Café Belga - Place Eugène Flagey - terrasse - été

Architect: Joseph DIONGRE, 1935-1938

The construction of the new building needed for radio at place Eugène Flagey in Ixelles did not come without challenges. It took two competitions, over fifty participating architects, and even two engineers from the BBC. To be fair, at the time, there weren’t many buildings specifically designed for radio. The winning project by Joseph Diongre considered all the acoustic requirements as well as the marshy ground of the site due to the nearby ponds. Technical ingenuity and aesthetic sophistication: the jury members were unanimous and called the building a “beautiful factory of sound.” The structure, resembling an ocean liner, immediately gained worldwide fame.

For thirty-five years, all radio broadcasts and recordings took place here, including many classical music, jazz, and contemporary music concerts, and later, television broadcasts. As television became increasingly important, the Dutch- and French-speaking broadcasters moved in 1960 to an even larger building on boulevard Reyers. After the renovation and expansion of the complex, it remained a unique venue for concerts and music recordings. The exceptional acoustic qualities of the halls laid the foundation for one of Brussels' leading cultural centres: Flagey. It has become a reference for the most prestigious musicians. All musical styles are represented here, from jazz to world music, classical, and contemporary music. Studio 5 has been converted into a cinema and screens films and video projections daily. Studio 6 is now the television studio for BRUZZ.

Did you know?

The tower, typical of the popular ‘ocean liner’ style, was added to house the television antenna. This new medium was still in its infancy, but the NIR was responsible for the first experimental broadcasts.

Bozar - Centre of Fine Arts: A delicate balancing act

Architect: Victor HORTA, 1922-1929

In 1919, Art Nouveau pioneer Victor Horta laid the “first stone” of the Art Deco movement in Brussels. With his plans for the construction of the Centre of Fine Arts (Bozar), he made a resolute turn toward artistic innovation. Once again, financial issues required a new project. Multiple challenges made for a delicate balancing act: a plot of land with uneven terrain and limited height on the side of place des Palais; maintaining the shops and the viaduct on rue Ravenstein; the complex stairways on rue Baron Horta... and all this on a strict budget! Horta, however, overcame these constraints with brio. He delivered an ambitious complex with exhibition and concert halls on a total surface area of approximately 30,000m² across three levels, linking the upper and lower parts of the city. The key element was his innovative use of concrete, which is especially visible in the large Horta Hall. Concrete was not only more readily available but much cheaper than metal. In the egg-shaped Henry Le Bœuf Hall, he was able to create the undulating balconies. The world’s best musicians have been performing for nearly a century in this architectural masterpiece, with its exceptional acoustics, inclined planes, and 2,200 seats. It's no coincidence that the Queen Elisabeth Competition takes place here! Today, Bozar remains a cultural icon. Each year, the new season of concerts, exhibitions, films, lectures, and much more is eagerly awaited.

Did you know?

Every music lover knows the Henry Le Bœuf Hall. This hall is named after banker and music lover Henry Le Bœuf, a fervent supporter of Brussels' music scene and this temple of music. With its egg-shaped design, Horta fulfilled the wishes of violin virtuoso Eugène Ysaÿe, who wanted artists to feel surrounded by the audience.

Wiels, the former Wielemans-Ceuppens brewery: Cutting-edge industrial architecture

Wiels (c) Julien Hayard

Architect: Adrien BLOMME, 1930

The Wielemans Tower at 354 avenue Van Volxem remains a landmark in Forest to this day. The construction symbolised the peak of success for the former Wielemans-Ceuppens Brewery, where at one time over a thousand people worked! The new brewery was built in 1930 by the family’s architect, Adrien Blomme. Both architecturally and technically, it was one of the most modern breweries in Europe. Although Blomme designed buildings in various styles, he often favoured Art Deco. In this sleek concrete building, the influence of modernism is evident. Thanks to the large continuous windows, passersby could see how the beer was made. To create a cohesive look, the brick facades of the old brewery and the machine room at numbers 356-370 (now home to the BRASS Cultural Centre and the Dutch-speaking library) were covered with a light cement layer featuring Art Deco geometric decorations.

Three of the eight original copper tanks are still visible from the street. They now serve as a backdrop for the café of the Wiels Contemporary Art Centre. Take a break there and enjoy a tasty dish or drink. The bookstore is also open to the public. And that’s not all! Original exhibitions by contemporary artists, conferences, guided tours, workshops, and family activities are regularly organised to make contemporary art accessible to a wider audience. Typical of Art Deco, the building features glass and metal ceiling lights and wall sconces, as well as black and green tiled panelling.

Did you know?

The spaces at the back of the building, accessible via a staircase, were once grain lofts. After a complete renovation, they were transformed into exhibition halls.