![]() There is poetry, too, in the proportions of spaces, the thickness of walls, the distribution of mullions, and the careful placement of columns. The efficiency never turns uncomfortable, owing to the (very) high ceilings and ample outside views throughout the building. It exists to facilitate the events it will host-and to do so effortlessly and generously. Proving that trade fairs and conventions can do without glitzy casino carpets and faux crystal chandeliers, the straightforward design approach has produced a building that is easy to understand. Still, the minimalism of the BMCC feels distinctly chic. Structural work has largely been left exposed, giving the interior a somewhat austere atmosphere. The glass-and- brick exterior is complemented inside by exposed in situ concrete walls, large rectangular windows, and a ceiling of sleek gray louvers through which ducts and cables can be glimpsed. Space is used efficiently throughout, as are materials. The chosen solution is elegantly simple: The ground floor consists of an enormous hall preceded by an entrance area containing two vertical cores (one for visitors, one for logistics), while the three levels of conference center are stacked on top of the lobby. That clarity is, Soors explained, not just a matter of taste: It was also the only way to fit the ambitious program-an approximately 48,000-square-foot expo hall and a conference center capable of hosting 500 visitors-on a small site. During a visit to the center on a hot summer morning, Eric Soors, architect and managing partner at META, recounted a telling anecdote: Having been presented with META’s work prior to the start of the project, Souto de Moura apparently exclaimed, speaking French to even out the difference between Portuguese and Flemish: “Nous parlons la même langue!” (“We speak the same language!”) And while that might not literally be true, the BMCC shows a clarity and consistency that enable it to comfortably reside in the portfolio of either atelier. ![]() ![]() ![]() This effort, the first collaboration between the two distinct (and distinguished) architects, has produced a significant building. ![]()
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