Brussels' city centre is due to witness a rebirth of culture as the Region has officially granted a permit for the partial renovation of the former Théâtre des Variétés, announced State Secretary for urban planning and heritage Pascal Smet (Vooruit) in a press release on Friday.
This 1930s modernist gem by architects Victor Bourgeois and Maurice Gridaine, located between Rue de Malines and Rue de Saint-Pierre in the centre, will be converted into a space for culture, arts and citizen participation.
Designed by Spanish architecture firm Flores & Prats and Brussels-based OUEST, the project includes a large theatre hall (999 seats), a smaller theatre hall (405 seats), offices, technical rooms, a public forum and a bar.
"The rebirth of Théâtre des Variétés marks a new phase in the revitalisation of the city centre and the Rogier area," said Smet in a statement. The previously neglected centre-ville alleys, situated between Boulevards Adolphe Max and Émile Jacqmain, are undergoing extensive redevelopment for beautification and tranquillity.
The current look of the façade (Left) and future façade after the renovation (Right). Credit: OUEST Architecture / Flores & Prats
Pascal Smet emphasised that the project aims to preserve the site's existing heritage qualities, including the classified Malines street façade and various original elements that will be reinterpreted.
Inaugurated in 1937, Théâtre des Variétés served as a concert hall, variety theatre, music hall, and cinema with ultra-modern equipment for its time. It was the first theatre globally to be entirely lit by neon lights in shades of pink, blue and light green.
The building, made of reinforced concrete, dedicated almost all its space to the main hall, with other rooms fitted into residual spaces. It was permanently closed on 16 February 1983 due to roof collapse risks as ordered by firefighters.
The main façade, roof and theatre hall were classified as a monument on 16 June 2003, due to an initiative from the City of Brussels.
Models for renovation plans. Credit: OUEST Architecture / Flores & Prats
