The invitation had obviously made the rounds of the capital. This Saturday, a crowd of curious people from Brussels (but not only…) was present at the public inauguration of the brand new administrative center of the City of Brussels, Brucity.
And as much to say that the 37,000 m2 building leaves no one indifferent. “It’s beautiful, it’s modernity”, slips Christine, former Laekenoise employee. “This canopy is superb”, judge also Patricia, Forestoise. Annie is not of this opinion: “it looks like an ocean liner in the city”. “It’s totally disproportionate, especially given the finances of Brussels”adds his companion, Guy, in front of the building with 1,001 windows.
”Grand! But that’s still a lot of tiles to clean. We have enough to compete with the Louvre pyramid now”, smiles with zwanze Christian Reith, secretary of the Companions of Saint-Laurent. Because this Saturday, the giants of Brussels folklore were there, with the organizers of Meyboom, Madame Chapeau… “It is a pride to have been invited.”
Frédéric Jannin, humorist of the Snuls, was also present to explain to the general public his “soulagicon”. These are mannequin legs set up in a corner of Brucity’s waiting room. “You have to grab them and give them a good knee kick. It gives you relief”, laughs the comedian. “Only in Brussels can you see this.”
The City of Brussels inaugurates its new administrative center, equipped with the future “most beautiful rooftop in Europe” (PHOTOS)
A panorama that has an effect
On the roof, where a restaurant will see the light of day in the summer, it’s exaltation. “But what a view”exclaim two Norman tourists, “accidentally grabbed by a hostess” passing through the neighborhood. “We were lucky.” “It’s an amazing view”, adds Marguerite, from Uccle. “You can see Brussels at 360 degrees, it’s unique.” According to her, Brussels has done well to modernize its infrastructure in a modern, although less historic place. “AT Uccle, I was skeptical when they recently moved to rue de Stalle. We are of course attached to the old town hall. But the news is more practical. I was pleasantly surprised.” “And they’re going to continue the weddings in the old town hall. This is a good thing”slips Christine, 78, from Evere.
Among the crowd who came to discover Brussels from the sky, we find Joseph Henrard, from Theux in the Liège region, in the company of his two grandchildren. Brucity, he and the cubs watched him rise from the ground with great interest. “I came here every Wednesday to babysit and we came to see the construction site. We have seen the evolution week following week”, explains the Theux. The reconversion of the former car park 58 ultimately took five years. “I remember the big pliers”, smiles Oisin, from the height of his 7 years. And the family did not intend to miss this inauguration. “Now it’s donut: like when we went to see the construction site on Wednesdays”laughs Joseph.