Three years of design and construction work were required to develop and implement a project which was to shoot to international fame and contribute to the international visibility of the capital of Europe.

Designed to represent Belgium at the Universal Exhibition in 1958 in Brussels, the Atomium was intended to last only for the six months of the Expo, from 17 April to 19 October 1958. Fifty years on, this architectural masterpiece remains one of the world's best-known and most visited buildings.

Attached as they are to this symbolic edifice over 100 meters high, Belgians tend to forget just how daring, creative and modern engineer André Waterkeyn's design was. Waterkeyn's intention was to represent an iron crystal – not a molecule or atom as is sometimes believed - 165 billion times its actual size, in the form of an assembly of 9 spheres connected by 20 tubes. Three years of design and construction work were required to develop and implement a project which was to shoot to international fame and contribute to the international visibility of the capital of Europe. The Architects were André and Jean Polak.  

The Atomium, which had aged over the years, was entirely renovated between 2004 and 2006. Its exterior was fully re-clad, the exhibition and reception areas, shops and restaurant were reconstructed, an outdoor ticket pavilion was built and the square around the building was redesigned. This renovation work gave the Atomium a new lease of life and has met every expectation. Since reopening in February 2006, the Atomium has welcomed over 1.400.000 visitors and is once more arousing the curiosity and enthusiasm of both Belgians and foreign visitors.

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Atomium management has drawn up a schedule of many activities on the theme of " Brussels Happiness " and of the links between technological progress and the promise of happiness. Almost 50 events (exhibitions, shows, outings, evenings, special publications, etc.) will be taking place between 17 April and 19 October 2008, i.e. during the exact period of the 1958 Universal Exhibition, only half a century later:

• The Pavilion of temporary Happiness: a temporary pavilion will be built using nearly 33,000 Belgian beers crates for housing exhibitions and screenings open to the public. They will be recounting the story of world’s fairs and enabling visitors to reflect upon the ideas of progress, universalism and happiness. This pavilion will be constructed in the same spirit as that which prevailed at Expo 58 but using materials which are recyclable
so that the whole project adheres to strict ecological criteria and is totally wastefree.

It will house the interactive exhibition "And happiness, past or future?" The
Pavilion of temporary Happiness will be open from 18th April until 19th October 2008. Admission costs 5 euros per person.

• The exhibition “Expo 58. Between Utopia and Reality" (also from 18th April until 19th October), produced by the City of Brussels Archives department, the State Archives and the Atomium association, focuses on remembering the year 1958 and will be accompanied by topic based displays in the various spheres of the Atomium.

 • The "STUDIO 58" walk: near the Atomium, along the length of Boulevard du
Centenaire (between the Atomium and the place Louis Steens) enlarged
photographs of the 1958 pavilions will be displayed as well as urban changes and memories of Brussels attributed to Expo 58.

• Several special editions (books, comic books, magazines, etc.) are also planned, re-evoking the memory of the 1950's and the Brussels World’s Fair.

• A number of one-off events are also planned between 17th April and 19th October 2008: two large second-hand street markets, an old-timer parade, an outdoor ballroom dancing event open to the public, fireworks, organized tours (especially by bicycle), open air screenings of 50's films, an electro evening, one-off topicbased exhibitions, etc.

• A blog on the website of the Atomium (www.atomium.be is open to
everyone.



A varied programme which will enable all who are interested to celebrate the Atomium fittingly but also to reflect upon the idea of technological progress such as it was perceived at the time and such as it concerns us more than ever fifty years later.

Photos:
André Waterkeyn © SABAM 2008 – www.atomium.be , photo Olivier Hennebert
Hostesses © SABAM 2008 – www.atomium.be S.A.D.O-Roland
Pavillon des U.S.A © AGR-AR SABAM 2008 – www.atomium.be