COBE and BRUT explain their vision about the New Schuman
In December 2017, Pascal Smet stated that “Schuman square is an example of what Brussels no longer needs to be. This square will be returned to the Brusselians and Europeans. It will become tomorrow a urban agora – a meeting place in a peaceful area”.
A pedestrian area will be set up from Cinquantenaire to rue de la Loi. The public authorities also want to make Rue de la Loi pedestrian from Cinquantenaire to Schuman, although cars would still be allowed to be drive from Cortenbergh to the roundabout.
A call for proposals was launched in 2015 and two architecture firms, COBE (from Denmark) and BRUT (from Belgium) have been selected to design the future square.
“The winning project as proposed by COBE and BRUT shows a fine craftsmanship, as it combines the overall complexity of this mission within a consistent and ambitious project,” explained the city architect Kristiaan Borret.“The new Place Schuman will become a pleasant and at the same time welcoming area. A federating project, just as Europe itself.” he concluded.
“A parliament is usually closed-off to the public, but Place Schuman will be permanently accessible, embracing democracy and knowledge sharing. Here, all citizens of the EU will be united under one roof,” said COBE founder Dan Stubbergaard.
“The roof reflects the square and the people below, creating a meeting place between nationalities, cultures, languages and genders,” he continued.
“The agora underneath the roof will be designed as concentric circles, inspired by the European Parliaments’ hemicycle. The circles continue in the surrounding pavement, emphasising Place Schuman as the centre of European democracy.” he concluded.
