It finally happened. Years of waiting are over... I've finally set foot in the Berlaymont building.
The European Commission's flagship cross-shaped building has, as I'm sure you're all aware, just re-opened after years of work to remove the asbestos which was found in the 1980s.
When I lived in Brussels in 1997 the building was encased in a tight white cover a bit like a Christo building sculpture, and didn't look at all bad, it must be said.
But today, finally, I was able to finally go in, as I agreed to meet my translator friend Hugh for lunch in the canteen.
And I have to say I'm a teensy bit disappointed. I'm not sure whether it's to do with the fact that it's in Belgium or that it's a building for the Commission, but something's not quite right.
I must admit to only having seen the almost-finished common areas and the restaurant, but those are, after all, the bits that everyone sees, and they see them first.
The sliding door creaks and struggles to open when you go in, and while the public areas to try to be impressive with some nice materials (stone floor in the lobby, for example), the overall effect is very confused and quite cluttered.
The cafeteria is your standard EU institution fare, which really isn't bad at all, but they still manage to have big hold-ups when they run out of things.
I'm not really sure what I was expecting. A sense of majesty, excitement or occasion, I suppose. This is, after all, probably the most famous EU building in Brussels, and the Commission's flagship.
On the other hand it's basically just an office building, not a place of democratic representation of the people like the Parliament, and so any over-the-top drama would probably inappropriate.
Still, at least I've been. I'm looking forward to seeing what the interpreting booths are like...
Posted by Eurodan at October 26, 2004 8:56 PM