La Patinoire: a prospective look at a former international exhibition site

Abstract

A little outside of the city, the Coronmeuse area has seen two, and almost three, international exhibitions, the site has been a place of events and culture for years. However, today its future is widely discussed: the city wishes to expand and Coronmeuse is likely to become a new neighbourhood. How can we reuse this former exhibition site and make it part of the city? Through this research, we wish to look closer to the history of this particular place, how the site has evolved until today and how the inhabitants of Liège perceive it. Moreover, since 1939 the site welcomes the emblematic former Palace of the City of Liège: La Patinoire. A strong and austere modernist building which has become closely tied up with Liège’s identity. Therefore, the reflection on the site happens on two levels, a first one looking at the site in general and a second one, looking closer at its most iconic vestige.