Pure Excellence Serious Science in Hi-Tech Hotspot Mons
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wallonia and brussels m a g a z i n e autumn 2011 wab Pure excellence Serious science in hi-tech hotspot Mons Fashion forward Walloon designer dresses the stars King of the road Cycling superstar Philippe Gilbert PLUS news tourism agenda Sax appeal: Dinant’s wab heritage is a draw for wallonia and brussels contents tourists 14 heritage Grand-Hornu combines m ag a zi n e autumn 2011 the best of past and present in a stunning wab temple to art A quarterly magazine focusing on Wallonia and Brussels panorama Cover: Hands-on 16 scientists at work A different view of in Wallonia. Corking: Liège’s new Crowne gastronomy Image by Wallonia’s own Plaza hotel Shutterstock 28 sparkling wine is Ruffus champagne is creating a buzz bringing the sparkle of tourism IRLOT P success to a Walloon 18 DINE vineyard The home of jazz has Na plenty to offer PIERRE-ANTOINE fashion innovation Editor-in-chief 24 Sarah Crew 20 Young fashion designer A team of Mons-based Venini Triplo by Pierre Emilie Pirlot has dressed Deputy editor scientists are recognised Charpin, on show at two of pop’s biggest stars Sally Tipper Grand-Hornu Images by their peers Reporters Martin Banks, Anne-Laure de Harlez, expat investment Leo Cendrowicz, Sam Dansie the big picture 22 26 Art director 4 Architect Nicolas Caterpillar is investing Patricia Brossel The Belgian twins Godelet tells us about heavily in modern General manager making tracks in the life in China machines Joske Plas athletics world news 6 Featuring Mecca soda, the renaissance of Mons and walks in the park Editorial committee: E E MEY D AWEX/WBI and The Bulletin / file HIERRY HIERRY Ackroyd Publications 8 T Mons draws on the agenda Editeur responsable: Intimate: finest scientific minds Philippe Suinen – AWEX/WBI 30 Performers at at its innovative centres Events not to be missed of excellence the Charleroi around the region Dance Biennale For more information on Wab magazine contact: profile Marie-Catherine Duchêne 31 AWEX, Place Sainctelette 2 View from abroad: Cyclist Philippe Gilbert is 1080 Brussels, Belgium Nicolas Godelet swapped Tel: 00.32(0)2.421.85.76 one of the sport’s most Wallonia for China bankable stars Fax: 00.32(0)2.421.83.93 email: [email protected] 2 - Autumn 2011 Autumn 2011 - 3 wab the big picture Lap of honour for the Borlée brothers he weight of the nation’s expectations seem to be resting lightly on the broad shoulders of Kevin (left) and Jonathan TBorlée. As the pair performed a victory tour of the Heysel stadium during the Van Damme Memo- rial in September, they could reflect on a glori- ous season. In August Kevin won bronze in the 400m at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Belgium’s sole medal. Twin brother Jonathan also ran in the final, coming home fifth. Their positions were reversed at the 35th Van Damme, when Jonathan produced his best time of the season at 44.78 to take first place, while Kevin followed second in 44.97. Prior to the meet, the 23-year-old brothers had declared their determination to finish the season in style in front of a Belgian crowd. “We will give it everything”, they told local newspaper L’Avenir. While the feat of two Belgians competing in a world championship has propelled the brothers to celebrity status in their home country, the story of their success is quite remarkable. Born in Brussels to former athlete Jacques Borlée and his first wife Edith Demaertelaere, a Belgian ex-sprinter, they grew up in the province of Luxembourg. Jacques is the patriarch of the family, responsible for train- ing his children, including Olivia, who won silver in the 2008 Olympic 4 x 100m relay. He is also an outspoken commentator on Belgian athletics. The family are now the flagbearers for Belgian athletics and will be under the spotlight in 2012 with the London Olympics looming. But for Kevin and Jonathan, appreciated for their availabil- ity, kindness and modesty, it is the affection and mutual respect of their fraternal partnership that BELGA will also be applauded. 4 - Autumn 2011 Autumn 2011 - 5 wab news Spirit of Wallonia Charity cycle around the world A completely renovated Espace Wallonie, Two brothers from Brussels have swapped their hockey sticks for bicycles in in the heart of Brussels and Europe, has an ambitious charity project. Belgian hockey champions Matthieu and Lucas been officially opened by Wallonia-Brus- De Mot set off on a round-the-world bicycle trip to raise money for the Good- sels Minister-President Rudy Demotte. planet charity in September, starting their journey from their home commune The space, close to the Grand’Place, has of Uccle. In addition to the sporting challenge, the pair hope to collect €10,000 been in existence since 2003, and has for the charity foundation, which raises awareness about environmental issues now been modernised to create a lighter through sponsorship, talks, video screenings and T-shirt sales. and airier feel, featuring a new showcase To complete the 30,000km trip, Matthieu, 26, and Lucas, 23, need to for the region called Spirit of Wallonia. cycle 73km a day. After crossing France and Spain, the pair will travel Aiming to be a one-stop site for cultural, through Morocco, followed by South America, Australia and Asia touristic and economic information before returning to Europe and Brussels. Goodplanet was founded about the region, it combines a tourist by French photographer and ecologist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. SC office and contemporary art exhibition www.neswbybike.be space with an epicurean shop and restau- rant. It also organises events and tours. The store sells luxury and artisan gourmet items and offers regular sam- plings of beer, chocolate and other quality products, while the new cellar restaurant honours Walloon products. Chocolate by Duval, Destrée biscuits, Ruffus sparkling wine, Bush beers, Semois tobacco, cosmetics and Belgian Owl whisky are some of the products for sale. Recognising the need to encourage tourists to venture south, Espace Wal- lonie is designed to attract people from Brussels and the rest of Belgium as well as foreigners, said Demotte at the inau- guration in September. Sarah Crew Espace Wallonie/Spirit of Wallonia Mecca soda made The revival of Mons 25-27 Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes from Wallonia springs Mons is booming. The city is going through a www.spiritofwallonia.be Dubai-based French com- real change, with the idea being to develop busi- pany Mecca World Group has ness tourism, which brings in three to four times Guided walks in the park bought failed bottled water the revenue of classic tourism, in order to gain a company Sources of Spon- knock-on economic benefit for various sectors. Walkers in the Ardennes can be guided tin for €1.3 million. Known After putting Santiago Calatrava in charge of as they discover the natural landscape as Duchesse, Presbytère the new railway station (he has already designed and the local wildlife. The Parc Naturel and Clairchant, the natural Liège’s Guillemins station), American architect Haute Sûre Forêt d’Anlier, a 72,000-hec- springs near Yvoir (Namur Daniel Libeskind has been chosen for a new con- tare park in Luxembourg province, offers province) have been famous ference centre in the same area. His team has six guided tours to hikers. AL for their curative virtues for already worked on the rebuilding of the World The towns of Habay, Martelange, P H P centuries. The Duchesse and Trade Center site in New York. When asked to Léglise, Fauvillers, Bastogne and Vaux- the Clairchant have been bot- compare the projects, Calatrava said: “The archi- sur-Sûre each have their own tour, com- Green light for Liège’s Trilogiport PAUL JOSE PAUL tled for more than 30 years tecture has to be at the level of the places.” plete with a recording. Hikers can choose thanks to the Spadel group. The selection committee opted for a green a walk based on its length (from one to A major transport hub at the port of Liège has been given the green light by Wal- But in 2010, Spontin SA, a concept using its environment efficiently and three hours) or the kind of landscape loon planning minister Philippe Henry. Work on the logistic platform combin- subsidiary of Spadel, went bankrupt, and a new company was sought stressing renewable energies such as photo- they want to see. Some are tours; others ing three modes of transport – rail, boat and road – should start in 2012 and be to take over the industrial site, without success. Finally, the production voltaic panels or heat recovery. According to are a selection of places to visit. Laurence completed by 2015. The project is expected to boost the Walloon economy and lines were dismantled and the machines sold, but just as the site was his website, Libeskind’s philosophy is about Libotte, in charge of the project, says: create 2,000 jobs. about to become a warehouse, Mecca World Group reacted. “the notion that buildings are crafted with the “The goal is to introduce the cultural, The 100-hectare multimodal logistics park is on the banks of the Albert Canal The company plans to set up four production lines before the end of perceptible human energy”. The architect has environmental and natural richness of in Hermalle-sous-Argenteau, near the Dutch border. It is an extension of the the year and 40 people are due to be hired over the next two years to already put his human energy into buildings the picturesque villages of the park.” port of Liège, the third largest inland port in Europe.