Floral Map of Brussels at the 1958 World's Fair

Continuing on with the slides from the 1958 Brussels World's Fair — here's an amazing overview of the Fair looking towards the Porte de L'Atomium.

The area to the left of the avenue is the Belgian Section. The large square building is the Buildings and Housings exhibit. The tall white structure with the colorful mural across Avenue de la Construction is the Glass, Ceramics and Terra Cotta industries pavilion. Next to that is Town Planning. Behind that, with the bright red roof is the Coca Cola building. The globe is part of the Solvay pavilion. The round building on the right, Brabrant Hall, had a impuvium roof which was visible through the glass walls. The curved blue structure on the right of the avenue is the sewing pavilion (Singer, Bernina/Orion).

On the far left, under the zig-zag walkway can be seen the Map of Belgium, a 1.3500 scale model with working parts. This is the Civil Engineering pavilion, and although you can't see it well from this angle, the building was a daring piece of work.


The Civil Engineering building under construction, showing the walkway suspended by the cantilevered pylon.


The relief map of Belgium, showing positions of chief public works (bridges, tunnels, etc). The map is spanned by a footbridge, 17 feet high, which was entirely unsupported from the ground. It was suspended by the Civil Engineering building's cantilever (see above), which rose to a height of 120 feet.

Another view of the map (really a model!) showing considerable detail in craftsmanship.

This area is now called Mini Europe and is thriving still under the shadow of the Atomium.

A current look from the Atomium down on Mini Europe.

England, France and many other countries are represented here. Official site here.

Canadian Pavillion, Lumber and Glass — 1958 World's Fair

Here's some interior shots at various pavilions. The slides are unlabeled, and my knowledge of the 1958 Exposition is minimal at best, so some of these are unidentified.


I love the tree (or lumber?) exhibit here. This could be in the Canadian Pavilion. Note the dominant color scheme at the fair: red, yellow and blue; much like the palette the Eames used in the 50s.

A pair of visitors looking a a glass exhibit behind a fountain and sculptural wall.

Glass Exhibit.

Glass Exhibit.

Canadian Pavilion interior. More yellows, blues and reds. The modernistic mural at the end of the second story deserves note. The large map of Canada on the left appears metallic.

Brussels World Exhibition 1958 - Part 3

Happy New Year's! Wow, 2010 — we really are living in the future! And to follow that theme, I'm going to finish out the collection I have of the 1958 World's Fair for the next couple of posts. Enjoy!

Looking towards the Atomium up Kongolan and Avenue Du Congo. The Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi Hall (Government Pavilion) is on the left. Architect: G. Ricquier. "Five Department Stores" are on the right, by Le Soir. In one section were five showcases which depicted "Life in the year 2000." Any one have photos of this?


The Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi Hall (Government Pavilion) interior.


Overview of the exhibition with the transport hall and the dyke at the Netherlands Pavilion. The theme of the Dutch exhibit was "The Struggle Against Water." If you've ever visited Amsterdam, you will be amazed at the network of canals and dykes.

The interior 'polder' area (representing land below sea-level) of the Dutch Pavilion had an interesting dome-like building detailing the methods used to drain the land.

From the 1958 Guide: "On the visitor's ear will impinge the joyful chimes proclaiming the happiness of the inhabitants of the Netherlands." Huh? Anyways, cool building.