Architecture Feature – Atomium, Brussels
Situated in Brussels, Belgium, the Atomium is a unique structure which was originally constructed for Expo '58, also known as the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.
The brainchild of engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak, the Atomium stands tall at 102 metres and weighs 2400 tons and was designed to resemble a replica of a single iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times. It has nine spheres, each 18 meters in diameter, which are all connected by tubes.
A massive renovation was carried out on the Atomium in 2004 which went on till February of 2006. During this period, the structure was closed to the public. Post this process, the spheres of the Atomium were restored to their original luster with the aluminium covering on the spheres being replaced with stainless steel.
Interestingly, the old aluminium was sold as souvenirs to the public to help wage the restoration process.
Five spheres of the Atomium are open to visitors with the top sphere consisting of a restaurant with spectacular panoramic views of Brussels. These spheres can be accessed using escalators and elevators. Named as Europe’s most bizarre building, the Atomium today is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Brussels.
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