This year Europe celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. This also marks, of course, the fiftieth anniversary of the European presence in Brussels. But is Brussels really the right place to develop the capital of Europe?
So how can Brussels fulfill its European mission and express the European political project? What is the true nature of the European presence in Brussels? What picture of itself does Brussels present, or needs to present, to Europe and the world?

An international team of sixteen architects and urban designers enrolled at the Berlage Institute (Rotterdam) has been looking at these questions since 2004. Their study has resulted in a concrete project for Brussels as a worthy capital of Europe. Starting on 16 March, this project will be presented to the public in the exhibition A Vision for Brussels - Imagining the Capital of Europe, which will be open until 20 May at the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels. On 9 May, Europe Day, the Centre for Fine Arts will host an international symposium with the same title.



On the occasion of the exhibition, NAi Uitgevers and A+ Editions are publishing Brussels - A Manifesto. Towards the Capital of Europe, with contributions from leading thinkers such as the Italian philosopher Mario Tronti, the Brussels researchers Géry Leloutre and Iwan Strauven, and the architects Pier Vittorio Aureli and Elia Zenghelis. Like the exhibition, this manifesto takes a vigorous stand, making the link between the representative role of architecture and the future of Brussels and Europe.

A co-production of Het Berlage Instituut Rotterdam, A+ Belgium Magazine about Architecture & BOZAR ARCHITECTURE

Dates
16 March > 20 May 2007
Preview on Thursday 15 March at 6.30 pm

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am > 6 pm
Thursday, 10 am > 9 pm

Price
Admission free

http://www.bozar.be/