It wants to dress in green: The Atomium in Brussels, model of an iron molecule enlarged several hundred billion times, stood for the optimism and belief in progress of the post-war period at the world exhibition in the Belgian capital in 1958. Forty years later, the futuristic frame with the nine aluminum globes was ready for scrap again, and the happy spirit of the atomic age had also clouded over. In the nineties, consideration was given to demolishing the Atomium - against the will of the Brussels people. Then it was completely overhauled in 2004 and is now surrounded by wild meadows instead of asphalt, where cosmeen, coneflower, goldenrod and rudbeckia bloom in the rolling grass in autumn. “La nature nous fait du bien / Natuur is goed voor ons” is written on the sign with the peacock's eye that the gardeners put on the picket fence.
Choux de Bruxelles means Brussels sprouts in German, and if the balls of the Atomium are not wrapped in cabbage leaves, but shine in stainless steel, Brussels reveals itself as a European capital on the way to greenery and the circular economy.
Since tourist gatherings are no longer desired in Belgium either, the focus there is on projects that all listen to the word sustainability.
Palace-like warehouse in the most splendid historicism
In the slightly neglected north of the city, between the railroad and the canal, where at the beginning of the twentieth century the strands of transport and trade of a colonial power converged, a new district is growing on the Tour & Taxis site, in which it will be exemplary in terms of energy. The ruins of the Entrepôt Royal, a palatial warehouse in the most splendid historicism, have already been restored and opened in 2005. Offices, shops and bistros are located under its roof, and in the basement, the Permafungi mushroom grows on a thousand square meters. In front of the royal depot it looks more like fallow than an urban center.
On the south side, the futuristic building of the Brussels environmental authority is rounded off next to the currently largest passive office building, in which the government of Flanders sits. The halls of the old Gare Maritime should be an invitation to stroll, the glass roofs protect exotic gardens. A nine-hectare park is being created where the railway line used to be, which will connect the district with the city center. A suitable organic brewery, the Brasserie de la Senne, is already there and serves hoppy light.
Now nobody will travel to Brussels because a brewery feeds hops and malt to the cows after they have been used.
Buying organic carrots, certified chocolate and unwrapped almonds would also not be a sufficient motive, but considering the culinary sum a visit is definitely recommended.
And even if the guest does not see or smell anything from many of the funded projects - such as the reuse of collected coffee grounds in bulk for the cultivation of oyster mushrooms or the neighborhood compost management in public parks - one likes to hear that in this city nothing can happen perishes.