Concrete trees

Figure: R. Mehl

The abstracted continuation of the role of trees is particularly striking in the new hall

Figure: R. Mehl

View from the south of the restored old building, which received the glazed addition on its east side

Figure: R. Mehl

The glazed pavilion interrupts an existing row of trees on the banks of the Meuse

Figure: R. Mehl

The expansion sits on 34 cylindrical exposed concrete piers that mediate between the actual building and its pile foundation. This protects it from floods. At the same time, the piers are a reminder that the old building was the first in the world with a concrete pile foundation

Figure: R. Mehl

The cruciform columns of the internal space stand on the cylindrical piers. The underpass is also used for weather-protected delivery to the museum

Figure: R. Mehl

The grey value of the cruciform columns was adjusted to the color of the ceiling elements with zinc oxide pigments. The columns are placed in center stage by accenting with spotlights

Figure: R. Mehl

The extension ceiling consists of a prestressed filigree ceiling construction executed in exposed concrete

Figure: R. Mehl

Figure: Rudy Ricciotti Architecte

Ground floor plan, scale 1:1,000

Figure: Rudy Ricciotti Architecte

Column detail, scale 1:100

Figure: Rudy Ricciotti Architecte

Figure: R. Mehl

Architect Rudy Ricciotti (right) with Willy Demeyer, Lord Mayor of Liège, at the museum opening

Figure: R. Mehl

The historic La Boverie Museum in Liège has been expanded. The loadbearing support structure consists of precast exposed concrete components made from SCC and brightened with limestone powder from local quarries.

At first glance, one does not expect that this historic building, which is vaguely reminiscent of the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam when seen from the park, is actually a monument to modern construction technology. In fact, it is the world’s first building to have a foundation of driven concrete piles extending to depths of about 10 m. The subsoil consists of alluvial deposits, which is hardly surprising in an island set in a river: the Meuse, in this case. The building was erected as an exhibition pavilion for the first Belgian world fair in 1905. (The second - known for the Atomium - took...