After Tintin, the Smurfs, Tomorrowland, and Magritte, the Atomium has been chosen as the next 'Belgian Icon' by Brussels Airlines, as part of its marketing series highlighting the country's most well-known symbols.
The winning design of the competition, launched last August by the Belgian airline company, was inspired by the famous Brussels landmark built to represent Belgium at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958.
After the call for designs, a jury selected a final 15 out of over 900 submissions, with the final five decided by public voting. The final say was given to an external jury, which included Sandra Kim, Philippe Geluck, Michèle George, Sandrine Corman, as well as Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg and Head of Marketing Michel Moriaux.
The jury selected the project by Thomas Faes, an architect from Orp-Jauche. "The Atomium is, to me, the symbol of Belgium. The play of light and the mirror effect of the spheres allow each person to see something different," the winner said.
Brussels Airlines icon contest design winner 'The Atomium' by Thomas Faes. Credit: Brussels Airlines / Thomas Faes
"As an architect, I tried to translate what I perceived with the naked eye into a more technical drawing. I am so proud that my Atomium project will soon take flight with Brussels Airlines," he added.
Brussels Airlines and Thomas Faes will now work together to "transform the project into a technical drawing that can be painted on an aircraft," according to the airline. They will also create an interior design for the plane.
The finished design will be unveiled to the public next spring.
