The European Parliament

In the passages you get a glimpse into the elongated Spinelli building, where politicians, lobbyists and journalists try to influence each other. The European Parliament was built at the back of the prestigious station square. Until the 1970s, this was the district’s industrial heart, with the Leopold brewery and a series of small businesses that used the freight part of the station. Artists also liked to work here because of the proximity of a wealthy clientele and the availability of cheap studios with north-facing windows and a view over the railway lines.

On the other side of the Spinelli building, the size of the European Parliament (1992-1995) is really striking: this is the largest parliament in the world, where 754 MPs meet. You may not notice it at first glance, but a quarter of a century after its completion the building is already obsolete. Dilapidation, construction glitches, leaks and problems with the heating have presented the European Parliament with a choice: renovate or demolish. It’s a further demonstration of how badly modern buildings age and how unsustainable this makes them.

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