Expo 58: the exhibition
Permanent exhibition on two floors / base sphere

On 17th April 1958, the last universal world fair organised by Belgium was inaugurated on the Heysel site in Brussels.

A hugely colourful event, spreading a message full of boundless optimism, reflecting a society characterised by confidence in its future, Expo 58 inspires fond memories in our collective consciousness.

Following on from the success of the exhibition Expo 58. Between Dream and Reality, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Expo 58, the Atomium, the magical home of Galaxy 58 brings you a new permanent version: Expo 58: the exhibition.

The Atomium has acquired 27 original or contemporary models representing different pavilions from Expo 58. These have been restored and created by Ghent University using archived documents to make sure the reconstructions were faithful to the originals.

Using archived documents, photographs and videos from the era as well as countless models, this exhibition will take visitors on a journey back in time to this unforgettable, breathtaking event. For some, this is the perfect opportunity to rediscover this enchanting experience; for others, who know nothing about Expo 58 and its passion for progress, this is a chance to learn about this magical time which still infuses the Atomium with its energy.

Expo 58 touched hearts and minds, and so did its insignia, the Lucien De Roeck Star, named after its designer, which has since then become a design legend. 

A typed note (1958), a few fragments of which we reproduce for you here, gives us some explanation about the creation of this icon.

Lucien De Roeck wanted to bring together all the elements which epitomised this exhibition in one graphical element, clear and simple, taking into account the event’s universality and the city in which it would take place.

He had a number of ideas, including a tree without any leaves whose branches would support all of the symbols characterising the exhibition. But it was the Star that won the day: I adapted the shape of the star which seemed to be able to explain the energy of this exhibition through the slightly distorted shape that I gave it. To this, he added the notion of universality, represented by the presence of the globe, fixing the whole thing in time, as symbolically as paradoxically for extremity, with the number 58, as these two numbers alone mark the whole of the exhibition.

>>> visit the website of the Foundation Lucien De Roeck.

>>> We look forward to welcoming you to the Atomium in person soon, but in the meantime, take a trip back in time and visit the virtual Expo 58 site.

>>> Plan your trip and download the brochure about the permanent Expo 58 exhibition here.

>>> Books and DVDs about the history of the Atomium and Expo 58 are available in the Atomium shop.