Beyond The Pavilion - Portraits of Architects: Cyril Rousseaux

The documentary Beyond the Pavilion, directed by Mister Emma, offers an in-depth reading of Walloon architectural practices through the lens of the national pavilions designed for World Expos.

By focusing on five architects active on the international scene, the film examines how these temporary structures crystallise structural issues: sustainability, identity, programmatic innovation, logistical constraints and the narrative representation of territories.

Cyril Rousseaux: a trajectory rooted in La Louvière

Coming from a practice largely oriented toward public commissions and large-scale programmes (police stations, public facilities, real-estate developments), Cyril Rousseaux grounds his work in a close relationship with the territory of La Louvière: through his office Carré 7, he seeks to accompany the city’s urban transformation.

His interest in World Expos is not the result of a one-off opportunity but stems from a long-standing fascination deeply embedded in his personal trajectory: as a child, a visit to the Atomium left a lasting imprint on his imagination.

What he discovered then was not only a monument, but an architectural narrative — that of a Belgium projecting itself into an optimistic future, in dialogue with other nations.

Water as structure and narrative

The overarching theme of the World Expo — Saving Lives — led Cyril Rousseaux to a simple yet foundational observation: in order to save lives, water must be protected.

The idea emerged within a fragile context:
the post-Covid period, the floods in Wallonia, and the profound cultural symbolism of water in Japan. The reflection was structured around the three states of water, forming the foundation of the architectural, spatial and scenographic approach:

• Solid state: the Icebox
  A monolithic, crystalline-looking volume clad in holographic surfaces that refract light to evoke the transparency and density of a block of ice.
• Liquid state: the initiatory pathway
  The entrance sequence invites visitors to “walk on water,” in explicit reference to Japanese purification rituals.
• Gaseous state: the atmospheric spheres
  The roof hosts ten inflatable volumes, a subtle nod to the Atomium. These elements materialise the gaseous state of water while creating a distinctive aerial landmark.
• Inside, a planted forest, an image of the life generated by water, structures the pavilion’s spatial experience and provides a sensory continuity across the three narrative registers.

The pavilion was designed according to a principle of full disassembly, with all modules dimensioned to fit into shipping containers. It is expected to have a second life on a site in La Louvière region, extending its international trajectory through a renewed local anchoring.

The belgian pavilion awarded bronze

At the close of the six-month Expo, the Belgian Pavilion in Osaka was awarded a bronze medal by the Bureau International des Expositions for its outstanding interpretation of the theme. The jury praised the project’s coherence around Saving Lives, the clarity of its architectural narrative, and the depth of its reflection on water as a vital resource.

In a context where many pavilions benefit from considerable means, Belgium stood out through an approach grounded in humanity, clarity of message and the quality of the spatial experience. This distinction strengthens the pavilion’s impact and confirms the relevance of the vision developed by Cyril Rousseaux and his team.