The Citroën Garage (; ), originally a garage and showroom, is located on the / in Brussels, Belgium. It served as Citroën Belux's headquarters until 2012 and continued as a showroom until 2017. The building was designed by , , and , and constructed from 1933 to 1934.
History
Early history By the late 1920s, the , Citroën Belux's precursor, had its headquarters on the / in Ixelles. Seeking to consolidate its operations, Citroën decided to move. Maurice Ravazé selected a site at the northern corner of the Pentagon (Brussels' city centre), near the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal, and close to key train stations. This location previously housed a short-lived amusement park with attractions like roller coasters and .
Design and construction Architects Dumont and Van Goethem created a modernist complex using glass, steel, and concrete, featuring an innovative night-lighting concept for the showroom. The design adapted to existing structures, leading to a unique layout. The main showroom was located at the corner of the Square Sainctelette/Sainctelettesquare and the /, with additional buildings for displaying the latest models and housing offices. Workshops occupied the northern two-thirds of the block, with organized circulation for clients, employees, and suppliers.
Construction began on 20 October 1933, and finished in the spring of 1934. The project received enthusiastic support from the Brussels City Council, who believed it would revitalize the area and boost the local economy.
Wartime and post-war During World War II, the garage was occupied and bombed by the Germans, and later served as a garage for Allied combat vehicles. After the war, temporary facilities were used until repairs allowed the garage to reopen in 1947.
Mid-20th century In preparation for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58), architect Louis Hoebeke added a gas station and exhibition platform to the showroom. By 1958, four additional levels were constructed, and a building adjacent to the showroom was replaced to facilitate access to these new levels. Renovations continued through the 1960s and 1970s, including the addition of uniform white facades around 1980.
Transformation into museum In 2015, the Brussels Urban Development Corporation purchased the complex to convert it into a contemporary art museum as part of a canal zone revitalization project. In 2017, a call for design proposals resulted in 92 submissions. The winning design, developed into KANAL – Centre Pompidou, emerged from a collaboration between the Brussels Region, Paris' Centre Pompidou, and CIVA.
See also
History of Brussels Culture of Belgium
References
External links