The European Parliament has launched an architectural contest for the ‘House of European History,’ a project which will see an old building in the centre of Brussels transformed into an exhibition, cultural and educational space.

Focussing on Europe’s common history, the ‘House of European History’ is intended as a modern exhibition, documentation and information centre, designed around the 1935 Eastman Building site, situated on the edge of the Léopold Park in Brussels (alongside the European Parliament).

The building was built in 1935 and was originally a dental clinic for underprivileged children. It has been used for various different purposes until now.

The idea of a house reflecting the diversity of European history and its common roots was first put forward by the President of the European Parliament in February 2007, the idea being that the house would contribute to a better understanding of the origin of the EU institutions since World War II.

Once completed, the House will be open to 500,000 citizens each year, providing an overview of Europe and European integration in the cultural and urban area of Brussels. The winning contribution must make optimal use of the building and of its possibilities for spatial extension, whilst respecting the high quality of its environment as well as the principles of sustainable development, accessibility and flexibility. The aim is to open the ‘House of European History’ in the spring of 2014.

Note:

The architectural contest for the future ‘House of European History’ has been published in the Official Journal on 21 July 2009 (Design contest notice – Architectural contest to draw up detailed drafts for the future ‘House of European History’, 2009/S 137-199608). The notice and all underlying documents, including legal, financial and technical information and the procedure of project evaluation, may be consulted on the European Parliament’s website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/tenders/invitations.htm.

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