Liège, or, as we call it in Holland: Luik, isn't famous for it's riches.
Iew heavy industry (steel: Cockerill Sambre) iew poor part of Belgium, iew massive unemploiment - well, yes. That was true. Still is, compared with the thriving '60's and '70's, after which much of the heavy industry left (which for one thing resulted in even more unemploiment).
Anyway, Luik started slipping away and the city realised something had to be done. Not a patch up here and there - no, they opted for a Big Bang.
To rejuvinate the rather derelict Liege-Guillemins station and area around it they invited Calatrava.
World famous architect Santiago Calatrava.
He was given a free reign projectwise and came up with a building that was so breathtakingly extraordinary that people all over Europe took the train and headed for Liège Guillemins.
We did too. Spent 3 hours in and around the building and happily photographed away - mesmerised by the lines, the symmetry and flowing structures. Stunningly beautiful.
Kudos for the local government for their daring.
A selection of the photo's can be found here...
Iew heavy industry (steel: Cockerill Sambre) iew poor part of Belgium, iew massive unemploiment - well, yes. That was true. Still is, compared with the thriving '60's and '70's, after which much of the heavy industry left (which for one thing resulted in even more unemploiment).
Anyway, Luik started slipping away and the city realised something had to be done. Not a patch up here and there - no, they opted for a Big Bang.
To rejuvinate the rather derelict Liege-Guillemins station and area around it they invited Calatrava.
World famous architect Santiago Calatrava.
He was given a free reign projectwise and came up with a building that was so breathtakingly extraordinary that people all over Europe took the train and headed for Liège Guillemins.
We did too. Spent 3 hours in and around the building and happily photographed away - mesmerised by the lines, the symmetry and flowing structures. Stunningly beautiful.
Kudos for the local government for their daring.
A selection of the photo's can be found here...
