Ravenstein Gallery, Covered passageway in Pentagon, Brussels, Belgium
Ravenstein Gallery is a covered passageway within a four-story office building in central Brussels featuring concrete structures, glass bricks, and a prominent rotunda with natural lighting. The passage links upper and lower sections of the city and houses roughly 81 shops spread across multiple levels.
The gallery was completed in 1958 by architect Alexis Dumont, replacing a 15th-century Gothic well called Groote Pollepel that was later relocated to Egmont Park. This project marked the modernization of the central urban area with contemporary materials and structures.
The entrance ceiling features painted astronomical motifs representing winds and constellations with inscriptions such as Aldebaran and Andromeda. These artistic details create a poetic feeling as you step into the space.
The passage links different elevation levels of the city and provides direct access to the station, making it a practical route to navigate. The layout spans multiple floors, so it helps to allow time for exploring during a first visit.
A circular basin with palm motifs contains a ceramic fountain depicting the mythological scene of Europe's abduction beneath the concrete and glass brick dome. This decorative element blends traditional craftwork with modern architecture in a hidden spot within the interior.
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