Europa building, Office building in European Quarter, Brussels, Belgium
The Europa building stands on Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat in Brussels, its 1920s Art Deco stone facade retained and joined to a glass atrium by architect Philippe Samyn. Inside the atrium hangs the multi-storey lantern-shaped volume of coloured glass panels that holds the main meeting rooms. A circular room with slatted wooden desks rings a central open space beneath a domed ceiling of coloured glass crossed by white beams.
The building originated in the 1920s when architect Michel Polak began construction, with its opening in 1927 as part of the Residence Palace complex. Its adoption by European institutions shaped its purpose for decades to come.
The lantern-shaped structure holding the main meeting rooms is used as the official emblem of both the European Council and the Council of the European Union. The building's name comes from Europa, the figure from Greek mythology. The circular meeting room has a ring of slatted light-wood desks with black leather swivel chairs, microphones, nameplates and glasses of water, under a domed ceiling of brightly coloured rectangular glass panels crossed by white radial beams.
Access is mainly available for those with official business or through organized tours of the premises. Plan any visit in advance, as the site has security requirements.
The lantern-shaped structure inside the glass atrium holds the main meeting rooms, and its image is used as the official emblem of both the European Council and the Council of the EU. The site was transferred to the Council's Secretariat for the symbolic price of one euro.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,483 contributors worldwide.
