Esplanade of the European Parliament
Encyclopedia
The Esplanade of the European Parliament, or simply the mall, is a pedestrian mall
in Brussels
(Belgium
), completed in 2002.
(the European Parliament
buildings in Brussels), with the Alterio Spinelli building to the east and the Willy Brandt and József Antall to the west joined to the former by the circular Konrad Adenauer footbridge running over the mall. The former station building (see below) has been converted into an information centre and fronts onto Luxembourg Square.
The mall itself covers a once over-ground railway station, the Brussels-Luxembourg Station
(formerly known as the Leopold Quarter station). The paving over the top of the station allowed the construction of Parliament and created a direct link between Luxembourg Square to the west and Leopold Park
to the east. The train station's old entrance, since converted into part of the Parliamentary complex, is replaced by a glass covered stairway rising out of the mall's southern portion. The far south end is flanked by low-rise apartment blocks and is adjacent to local museums.
however residential opposition and delays mean this is not likely and it was not included as an option in recent architectural competitions.
, with the southern segment broken by grassy areas running down its centre. It curves following the layout of the train station below and the Parliamentary buildings above built around the tracks. In the stone in the northern segment are engraved marble slabs in the ground commemorating the first meeting of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty on 17 October 1987 in Paris
. They are written in four languages and contains a quote from Joseph Wresinski
and a commemoration of the 29 May 2002 follow up meeting in Brussels.
In the re-planning of the European Quarter
, the "public stature" of the mall is to be reinforced, along with the east-west connections. The northern end, which cuts off suddenly at Rue Belliard
, is to be improved, subject to an architecture competition. The southern segment will also be improved with better connections to residences, the park and the local museums. The government also seeks ideas on how to bring more life to the mall.
) which was played in 16th century France
on a raised grassy valley adjoining the Tuileries Palace Gardens
. The proximity of Leopold Park
to the esplanade, which was originally higher, led the designers to apply the term.
The central portion of the mall, at the main entrance to the Spinelli building leading to the Place Luxembourg, is to be named the Agora of Solidarity. This alludes to the Solidarność trade union and social movement
, which is a symbol of the fight against the Iron Curtain
because it played a central role in bringing Poland's suppressive Communist regime to an end in the 1989.
Pedestrian mall
Pedestrian malls in the United States are also known as pedestrian streets and are the most common form of pedestrian zone in large cities in the United States. It is a street lined with storefronts and closed off to most automobile traffic...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
), completed in 2002.
Position
The mall runs the central length of the Espace LéopoldEspace Léopold
The Espace Léopold or is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union ....
(the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
buildings in Brussels), with the Alterio Spinelli building to the east and the Willy Brandt and József Antall to the west joined to the former by the circular Konrad Adenauer footbridge running over the mall. The former station building (see below) has been converted into an information centre and fronts onto Luxembourg Square.
The mall itself covers a once over-ground railway station, the Brussels-Luxembourg Station
Brussels-Luxembourg Station
Brussels-Luxembourg railway station is a station in the European Quarter of Brussels under the Esplanade of the European Parliament .-History:...
(formerly known as the Leopold Quarter station). The paving over the top of the station allowed the construction of Parliament and created a direct link between Luxembourg Square to the west and Leopold Park
Leopold Park
Parc Léopold or Leopoldspark is a public park located within the Leopold Quarter of Brussels, adjacent to the Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Parliament....
to the east. The train station's old entrance, since converted into part of the Parliamentary complex, is replaced by a glass covered stairway rising out of the mall's southern portion. The far south end is flanked by low-rise apartment blocks and is adjacent to local museums.
Criticism
It has been criticised for "leading nowhere" as, aside from the Parliament and railway station, the mall is devoid of life. Parliamentary authorities did not wish to share the site with private enterprise, primarily for security reasons, and hence there are no shops or services along its entire length. There are plans to extend it along the railway tracks to the north, meeting up with the Berlaymont on the Rue de la Loi and to the south, so the Commission's extra 'pole' of buildings in AuderghemAuderghem
Auderghem or Oudergem is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium....
however residential opposition and delays mean this is not likely and it was not included as an option in recent architectural competitions.
Design
The mall is largely light pink and white flagstoneFlagstone
Flagstone, is a generic flat stone, usually used for paving slabs or walkways, patios, fences and roofing. It may be used for memorials, headstones, facades and other constructions. The name derives from Middle English flagge meaning turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga meaning slab.Flagstone is a...
, with the southern segment broken by grassy areas running down its centre. It curves following the layout of the train station below and the Parliamentary buildings above built around the tracks. In the stone in the northern segment are engraved marble slabs in the ground commemorating the first meeting of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty on 17 October 1987 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. They are written in four languages and contains a quote from Joseph Wresinski
Joseph Wresinski
Born into poverty, Fr. Joseph Wresinski established major landmarks throughout his life in the fight against the worst forms of poverty, in collaboration with the very poor themselves and other partners...
and a commemoration of the 29 May 2002 follow up meeting in Brussels.
In the re-planning of the European Quarter
Brussels and the European Union
Brussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
, the "public stature" of the mall is to be reinforced, along with the east-west connections. The northern end, which cuts off suddenly at Rue Belliard
Rue Belliard
Rue Belliard or Belliardstraat is a major street in Brussels, Belgium. The street runs parallel to the Rue de la Loi. Both are one-way streets; where traffic in Rue de la Loi is running in the western direction towards the Brussels city centre, the Rue Belliard is running in the eastern...
, is to be improved, subject to an architecture competition. The southern segment will also be improved with better connections to residences, the park and the local museums. The government also seeks ideas on how to bring more life to the mall.
Name
According to Brussels' government, the term the mall, translated from the French le mail, was given by the designers due to the origin of the word mail. The etymology of mail refers to the game, mail (a form of croquetCroquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
) which was played in 16th century France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on a raised grassy valley adjoining the Tuileries Palace Gardens
Tuileries Palace
The Tuileries Palace was a royal palace in Paris which stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed in the upheaval during the suppression of the Paris Commune...
. The proximity of Leopold Park
Leopold Park
Parc Léopold or Leopoldspark is a public park located within the Leopold Quarter of Brussels, adjacent to the Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Parliament....
to the esplanade, which was originally higher, led the designers to apply the term.
The central portion of the mall, at the main entrance to the Spinelli building leading to the Place Luxembourg, is to be named the Agora of Solidarity. This alludes to the Solidarność trade union and social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
, which is a symbol of the fight against the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
because it played a central role in bringing Poland's suppressive Communist regime to an end in the 1989.
Events
- On 3 June 2010 the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Presidency of the Council of the European UnionPresidency of the Council of the European UnionThe Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
arranged a dance event, show and concert on the Esplanade and Place du Luxembourg, inviting members of the public. Among the artist performing on the stage erected on the Agora of Solidarity for the event were Brian MolkoBrian MolkoBrian Molko is a songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the band Placebo. He is known in particular for his high-pitched vocals, androgynous appearance, and unique, Sonic Youth-influenced guitar style and tuning.-Early life:Born to an American father of French-Italian heritage and a Scottish...
, StromaeStromaePaul Van Haver, better known as Stromae [stromaj] is a singer-songwriter of Belgian-Rwandan origin. He has distinguished himself in both hip hop and electronic music...
, Sandra KimSandra KimSandra Caldarone , better known as Sandra Kim, is a Belgian singer of Italian descent who won the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 held in Bergen, Norway, on 3 May 1986....
. The celebration, themed "I ♥ EU" , ended with a fireworks display and a "late-night after party hosted by a top DJ". Belgian television broadcaste the event, which also was available through the Eurovision network and on the website of the Presidency.