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A few places in the center of Brussels still have remnants it’s colonial times and display Art inspired by the vegetation and animal life of the once Belgian Congo, The most recurrent theme is the banana.

As seen here on top of a building at 75 rue Antoine Dansaert

The building was erected in 1927 for Gerard Koninckx Frères an exotic fruit wholesalers by Eugene Dhuicque.

Multiple banana motifs can be seen and for a good reason, this is the fruit that made the fortune of many merchants in the beginning of the 20th century.

An attractive display of glazed stoneware

Next Building at 7 rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains displays an African woman with a full basket of various local fruits of the Congo.

Similar decoration found also on the right side

Last example of the fruitful trade in bananas is located at 34 boulevard d’Ypres. Again built for Gerard Koninckx Frères, this pretty Art Deco building was decorated with golden fruits & bananas on top of the columns of it’s facade.

On April 17th 1958, under a grey sky, Expo 58 opens its doors to visitors for a period of six months. By staging this prestigious exhibition, Belgium wants to show its know-how in such varied fields as atomic energy, metallurgy, urbanism and transport. The Atomium, spectacular symbol of the atomic age is the sole survivor of the 1958 World Fair. It represents an Iron crystal molecule magnified 185 billion times. At a height of 102 meters or 330 feet, the structure consists of nine spheres, each measuring 18 meters or 59 feet in diameter which altogether weighs 2400 tons. Conceived by engineer André Waterkeyn, the iron molecule took 18 months to design and as many months to built. Celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year many events are taking place until October to commemorate it.

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Atomium from a distance

A bit closer

From just under the Atomium

Different perspectives of the structure

Inside the Atomium everything is memorabilia dedicated to the Expo ‘58

The design and lights of the staircase somewhat made me remember the spaceship in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

More of the Brussels World’s Fair era

Atomium Elevator

Inside another sphere of the Atomium

And up again we go

TV room

More stairs with a Stanley Kubrick feel to them

Atomium Bar

View of some of the spheres around

Back downstairs for the lift to the top. In 1958 this was the fastest in the World which still feels pretty quick 50 years later.

View of the city of Brussels from the top of the Atomium

Mini-Europe, Brupark and the Heysel stadium view from Atomium

The palais du Heysel from a distance

Closer up

The prestigious Maison de la Bellone or “la maison de derrière” as they used call it in Brussels (translated into the “house at the back”) cannot be seen from the street. It can be found in a inner courtyard located at 46 rue de Flandre where it’s protected from the elements under a glass roofing. The facade of this beautiful patrician residence dates from the end of the 17th Century and is thought to have been the work of architect-sculptor Jean Cosyn. In the center above the arch over the front door is a statue of Bellona, the goddess of war. In the background, a trophy commemorates the Austrian victory over the Turks at Zenta in 1697. The window ledges are decorated with four medallions representing Roman emperors. The Maison du Spectacle now houses an information and documentation center about theater, and a library devoted to dramatic arts.

House of Bellona

A statue of Bellona the goddess of war sits above the main door

In 1995 the glass roof was added for protection by architect Olivier Noterman