As conceived by the architects, the seven-story building resembles intertwined fingers in its volume - which should symbolize the unity and interdependence of the countries participating in the North Atlantic Alliance.
At the same time, the silvery metal of the cladding panels and the modularity of the building, laid down in the project and expressed in the "mechanical" divisions of the building, rather suggests a transforming robot, ready to take on a completely different shape if necessary.
The project, which should begin this year, was demonstrated to the leaders of NATO countries at the recent summit in Bucharest.
Complex with a useful area of 185,000 sq. m should appear on the outskirts of Brussels, next to the highway leading to the airport. The location away from urban infrastructure forced the architects to include cafes, bank branches, shops and sports facilities in the complex. This is the political headquarters of the alliance, where meetings will be held and diplomatic missions will operate. NATO's military leadership is from Mons (Bergen), another Belgian city.
SOM won the competition for the headquarters design back in early 2003. The new facility is due to open in 2012.
