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Train World - National Railway Museum, Brussels
Commissioned by Eurostation, subsidiary of the NMBS Holding, Sum conceives the new National Railway Museum at the Princess Elisabeth Square in Brussels, a project that implies the reuse of the exisiting railway station of Schaarbeek.
In the first phase, the initial station building, built in 1887, was restored to its original function as a passenger station. The existing facilities distributed throughout the entire station were reorganised and improved. Restored ticket counters returned to their original location in the 1887 ticket hall.
A second phase targeted the transformation of the station built in the 1920. The "salle des pas-perdus" (the current passengers hall and adjacent rooms) was restored in the spirit of the 1920s. It became the reception and entrance hall for the new museum. The space will also be used for exhibits and service facilities. The former waiting rooms were transformed into a new restaurant accessible both to museum visitors and to external visitors.
A third phase included the construction of the new museum hall where the most important exhibition spaces are accommodated. The new building is located north of the old stations along the railway tracks and includes the former railway guard's house. Considering that the great hall of the station building is an integral part of the museum, an intermediary open-air public space linking two buildings was created.
The museum exhibits the historic heritage of the NMBS Holding and provides a prospective view of the train of the future. The scenography is handled by the Expoduo team, led by François Schuiten.
Client: NMBS Holding,
Delegated client: N.V. Eurostation
Concept: SumProject
In collaboration with: Eurostation (structure/HVAC), Expoduo under direction of François Schuiten (scenography)
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