Espace Léopold

Infobox building
building_name = Espace Léopold (French)
Leopoldruimte (Dutch)
native_building_name=
former_names =

---

caption = Paul-Henri Spaak viewed from Leopold Park
map_type =
building_type = Parliament building
architectural_style = Postmodern
structural_system =
cost =
location = Brussels, Belgium
address = rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat
B-1047 Brussels
client =
owner = n.v. Forum Leopold s.a.
current_tenants = European Parliament
landlord =
coordinates = coord|50.838498|4.376158|type:landmark|name=Paul-Henri Spaak building
start_date = 1989
completion_date = 1995 (opened 1993)
2008 (latest extension)
inauguration_date =
height =
diameter =
other_dimensions =
floor_count = 17
floor_area =
main_contractor =
architect = Atelier Espace Léopold
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers = Michel Boucquillon
quantity_surveyor =
awards =
references =

Espace Léopold (French, commonly used in English) or Leopoldruimte (Dutch) is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels (Belgium) housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union.

It consists of the "Paul-Henri Spaak" building (which houses the debating chamber), the "Altiero Spinelli" building, two new buildings known as "Willy Brandt" and "József Antall" and a newly refurbished building which was the former entrance to the Brussels-Luxembourg Station. Between the Spinelli buildings and the Brant-Antall buildings runs the esplanade of the European Parliament. The buildings are located in the European quarter in the east of Brussels, with building starting in 1989.

The complex is not the official seat of Parliament, which is the Immeuble Louise Weiss in Strasbourg, France, but as most of the other institutions of the European Union are in Brussels, Parliament built the Brussels complex in order to be closer to their activities. A majority of the Parliament's work is now geared to its Brussels site, but it is legally bound to keep Strasbourg as its official home.

History

Due to the failure of leaders to agree on a single seat, the Parliament desired full infrastructure in both Brussels and Strasbourg, where the parliament's official seat is located. In Brussels an international congress centre (unofficially intended as the Parliament) was built with the backing of the Generale Maatschappij/Société Générale and BACOB who joined forces on the project in 1987. The project was built on an old brewery and marshalling yard including the covering of the Luxembourg railway station to form a pedestrian area.European Commission publication: "Europe in Brussels" 2007]

The policy committees, inter-parliamentary delegations and the political groups all meet in the complex [ [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/visit/bru.pdf Map of EP buildings in Brussels] ] . Consequently the secretariat of the committees (DG IPOL and DG EXPO) and the political groups are all situated there as well.

Following the completion of D4 and D5, it is believed the complex now provides enough space for Parliament for the next ten to fifteen years with no major new building projects foreseen.cite web|last=Rankin|first=Jennifer|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=City bids to shape EU’s presence|work=|publisher=European Voice|date=2007-10-31|url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=29207|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-12-02] Three quarters of Parliamentary activity now take place in Espace Léopold, rather than Strasbourg. [cite web|last=Wheatley|first=Paul|title=The two-seat parliament farce must end|date=2006-10-02|publisher=Café Babel|url=http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.asp?T=A&Id=2047|accessdate=2007-07-16]

In September 2008 Parliament held its first full plenary session (only part sessions are held in Brussels, see Location of European Union institutions) in Brussels after parts of the celling of the Strasbourg chamber collapsed during recess forcing the temporary move.cite web|title=First ever European Parliament plenary session held in Brussels|date=2 September 2008|publisher=Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP|url=http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/001090/first_ever_european_parliament_plenary_session_held_in_brussels.html|accessdate=2008-09-10]

Paul-Henri Spaak

The Paul-Henri Spaak building (PHS), named after former President Paul-Henri Spaak, houses the hemicycle for plenary sessions in that city, as well as a press centre and offices for the Parliament's President and senior Parliament staff. The building juts from the main buildings out into Leopold Park surrounding the far side with trees. With its striking barrel-shaped glass roof, redolent of the Crystal Palace, the building known to locals as the “Caprice des Dieux” (whim of the gods), which is the name of a cheese with the same shape. The building project started before 1988 with building work on the hemicycle and the north wing starting in 1989 and the south wing in 1992. [ [http://www.ape-europe.org/cgi/index.php?wpage=nos_locaux_brux_histo&wlang=en History of the Building] ape-europe.org] The hemicycle was extensively renovated in 2003 to create more seats and interpretation booths for the 2004 EU enlargement. The dome on the top of the building is used for some press events and special occasions, one of the glass facades is covered with a large mosaic by Aligi Sassu portraying the abduction of Europa and other elements of Greek mythology. [cite book|last= Demey |first= Thierry |others= S. Strange (trans.) |title= Brussels, capital of Europe |year= 2007 |publisher= Badeaux |location= Brussels |isbn= 2-9600414-2-9 |pages= 387 ]

Hemicycle

Members are arranged in a hemicycle according to their political groups who are ordered mainly by left to right, but some smaller groups are placed towards the outer ring of the Parliament. All desks are equipped with microphones, headphones for translation and electronic voting equipment. The leaders of the groups sit on the front benches at the centre, and in the very centre is a podium for guest speakers. The remaining half of the circular chamber is primarily composed of the raised area where the President and staff sit.cite web|title = Brussels seating plan|publisher=European Parliament|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/fast_access/doc//PLAN_BRX_JUIN_2007.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate = 2007-06-12 ] Behind them there is an EU flag attached to the wall with national flags above it.

Translation booths are located behind them and along the sides of the chamber, while public galleries are located at the rear. Further benches are provided between the sides of the raised area and the MEPs, these are taken up by the Council on the far left and the Commission on the far right. The chamber as a whole is of a wooden design, unlike the hemicycle in Strasbourg.

Altiero Spinelli

The Altiero Spinelli building (ASP, formerly D3), named after parliamentarian Altiero Spinelli, primarily houses the offices of MEPs and political groups. It also houses shops cafeteria and the members' bar.

Construction started in 1991 and was competed in 1997. It is the largest building with 372,000m² of space and incorporates five high-rise towers, each up to 17 floors.

The building is to the west of Paul-Henri Spaak, connected via adjoining upper floors. To the buildings west, there are the new buildings (see below) which are connected to it across a pedestrian plaza by a circular glazed footbridge. To the north is the Bertha von Suttner building.

Willy Brandt and József Antall

The last phase of extensions has been towards Luxembourg Square along Trierstraat and is due to be completed during 2008. [ [http://www.besixred.be/en/markets/buildings/office/Detail.aspx?id=126 European Parliament D4-D5] ] [ [http://www.vkgroup.be/ShowNews.asp?CT=-1&ID=957 Passerelle parlement européen] fr] These buildings are the Willy Brandt (WIB, formerly D4) and József Antall (JAN, formerly D5) buildings which are connected to the Spinelli building by a circular glass walkway (called the Konrad Adenauer bridge). [http://euobserver.com/9/25461 New EU parliament buildings named] EU observer]

The Brandt building began to be occupied in July 2007 by the external policies DG and far-right/eurosceptic MEPs. The new complex has 375 offices in Brandt and 5 conference rooms (with 25 translation booths) in Antall in addition to new press facilities. The first meeting in the JAN building will take place on the 7th October 2008.

The complex will also include a Visitors' Centre on the ground floor, due to open in time for the 2009 European election. With 6,000 square metres it will be the largest Parliamentary visitors centre in the world, modelled on the Swedish and Danish centres, with a state-of-the-art interactive role play allowing visitors to simulate the work of an MEP in a mock hemicycle - debating and passing legislation. The current visitors centre was opened in the 1990s and is now too small to handle visitors. The new centre will include a cafeteria, shop, children's area and a "resource area" offering databases of detailed information. There will also be a permanent exhibition on the Parliament and Europe. [Banks, Martin (2008-01-30) [http://www.theparliament.com/EN/News/200801/cf0456e8-f402-4874-97c7-1eaadb5dd757.htm New visitor centre set to open in EU parliament] , TheParliament.com]

Naming

At the death of Pope John Paul II, Polish MEPs tried to get the new buildings named after him. [ [http://www.turks.us/article~story~20050416060949277.htm 'War of Names' in EP Begins for Pope] ] This was opposed by the socialists and greens who wanted someone who contributed to the Parliament and didn't conflict with the principles of secular government. With D4 completed and D5 almost completed in September 2007, the debate on names started again and is a very political issue. The bureau will decide upon the names, it is expected that at least one name will be someone from a new member state and one might be a woman. Some MEPs have expressed a desire for a figure from a smaller political group, as the current names tend to be from the larger parties. [ [http://euobserver.com/9/24657 European parliament struggles to baptise new buildings] Helena Spongenberg EU Observer 03.09.2007]

A poll of MEPs came up with some suggestions, including Václav Havel, Nelson Mandela, Olof Palme, Margaret Thatcher and Jan Palach. One satirical suggestion was naming the two buildings the "Kaczyński Towers" after the Polish brothers Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński, the first currently President and the latter formerly Prime Minister (2006-07), who enjoy a frosty relationship with Brussels. [ [http://www.rics.org/ASPNetForums/blogs/euaspx/archive/2007/09/04/what-s-in-a-name.aspx What's in a name?] RICS EU Public Affairs blog] [Hruska, Blahoslav (2007-09-05) [http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews/clanek.phtml?id=500010 Brussels may soon have its own Havel. Or Mandela?] aktualne.cz]

In January 2008 the bureau reached a final decision. The new buildings are to be named after Willy Brandt, the German chancellor from 1969 to 1974, and József Antall, the first elected Hungarian prime minister from 1990 to 1993. The bridge connecting the new building to the original structure is to be known as Konrad Adenauer bridge. Konrad Adenauer was the German chancellor from 1949 to 1963. Meanwhile, the parliament's press room is to be named after the assassinated Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.

Other buildings

Between the Brandt and Antall buildings is the BQL building, former building of the Brussels-Luxembourg station (originally called the Leopold Quarter Station) which has been turned into a public information office and venue for ad hoc exhibitions. The first such exhibition, on the history of buildings in the EU quarter of Brussels, was held in the summer of 2007.

The ATR building (Atrium I & II) hosts the DG IPOL and some political groups secretariats. Number 1 was completed in 2000, and the second in 2004.

The "Remard" building was rented from March 2004 for a period of 9 years, with the possibility of cancellation after 6 years for an annual rent of €1,387,205 [ [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/budg/20040405/525657EN.pdf Members Communicaction, Committee on Budgets] europarl.europa.eu] and a number of buildings are rented on Rue Montoyerstraat; 'MOY72' houses all of the DG INFO and 'MTY 70' and 'MOY 63' other support services. (coord|50.840609|4.373192|type:landmark|name=Montoyer buildings)

Other rented and minor buildings include three buildings on rue Montoyer, the Eastman building (EAS) in Leopold Park, the second and third floors of the Wiertz banana building and the Wayenberg building further east of the park.

Former Brussels buildings

The entire European Parliament in Brussels used to be housed in the Belliard building, now called the Delors (RMD) building (after former President Jacques Delors). This building, and the Bertha von Suttner (ATR) buildings (after pacifist Bertha von Suttner) which is part of Espace Léopold, now house the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. [cite book| last = Eppink | first = Derk-Jan | authorlink = Derk Jan Eppink | coauthors = Ian Connerty (translator) | title = Life of a European Mandarin: Inside the Commission | publisher = Lannoo | edition = 1st edition | language = English | location = Tielt, Belgium | date = 2007 | isbn = 978-9020970227 | page = 67 ] [ [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/155&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Bertha von Suttner - a visionary European. Opening of Bertha von Suttner Building, Committee of the Regions – ECOSOC. Brussels, 8 March 2006] europa.eu] [ [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=CES/06/90&format=HTM The EESC and CoR building at 99-101 rue Belliardstraat renamed Jacques Delors Building] europa.eu]

ee also

* Brussels and the European Union
* Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
* European Parliament in Luxembourg

References

External links

* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/visit/bru.pdf Map of the Parliament buildings] EuroParl website
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/press/sdp/newsrp/en/1998/n981118.htm#3 Naming of the buildings] EuroParl website
* [http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=4018 Seat of the EP] European Navigator
* [http://www.gregoryhalliday.be/index.cfm?fuseaction=portfolio.Photographe_en_chantier&Part=amcel&Pic=6 Photos of construction behind the old station "gare du luxembourg"] Gregory Halliday
* [http://www.gregoryhalliday.be/index.cfm?fuseaction=portfolio.Photographe_en_chantier&Part=amcel Photos of the construction of D4 & D5] Gregory Halliday
* [http://www.gregoryhalliday.be/index.cfm?fuseaction=portfolio.Photographe_en_chantier&Part=BxlGareLux&Pic=4 Photos of construction of "Caprice des Dieux" (Dec 1993)] Gregory Halliday
* [http://www.eupedia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1602 Photo of D4 near completion] Eupedia
* [http://www.interiordesign.net/id_article/CA626729/id Interview with Michel Boucquillon, designer on the building] Interiordesign.net
* [http://www.buildingsforeurope.eu/en/info.html Building(s) For Europe] , website of a 2007 exhibition of EU buildings in Brussels
* [http://www.cerau.be/en/page00E.htm European Parliament] , Cerau
* [http://www.ape-europe.org/cgi/index.php?wpage=nos_locaux_brux_histo&wlang=en History of the Building] ape-europe.org