New life for Bois de la Cambre pavilions as historic buildings re-open as art gallery

The two elegant white pavilions gracing the Avenue Louise entrance to Bois de la Cambre now have a new lease of life as art galleries.

The listed historical buildings owned by the City of Brussels are occupied by LMNO contemporary art gallery, which won a public tender to manage the heritage site.

As part of a renewable nine-year concession, it is staging four temporary exhibitions a year. The shows combining contemporary art with life sciences are presented in the left pavilion, while the right pavilion hosts seminars, meetings and offices.

An inaugural exhibition Going Wild in the City by Adrien Lucca focusing on light pollution and its impact on insects is running until 28 June.

LMNO, which was founded in 2016, previously occupied addresses in Rue de la Concorde and Avenue Emile De Mot.

“It's a space both in the city and in nature,” said Olivier Legrain, co-founder of the gallery. “It fits perfectly with our project, as we want to re-engage humanity with nature through culture.”

Toll houses for Porte de Namur

Evoking the Italian Renaissance style with columns, arcades, arched windows and stone steps, the two pavilions were designed in 1835 by Brussels’ city architect Auguste Payen. They were built as toll houses at Porte de Namur for collecting taxes from anyone transporting goods into the city.

After the abolition of the tax in 1860, these twin, almost symmetrical landmarks were dismantled and relocated to their current site at the entrance of the Bois de la Cambre. They have been listed as historic monuments since 1998.

After serving various functions such as police stations, children's stores, real estate agencies and cycling communities, the buildings were abandoned and squatted by homeless people.

LMNO
544 & 589 Avenue Louise
Brussels

Photos: ©Philippe De Gobert