Welcome to Access-i

Atomium

The Atomium is an emblematic monument in Brussels, Belgium, erected to mark the 1958 Universal Exhibition. It represents the conventional mesh of the iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times.

  • Design : The Atomium was designed by engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak.
  • Tourist attraction : The Atomium is one of the most visited sites in Brussels, offering a panoramic view of the city from its upper sphere.
  • Exhibitions : The Atomium hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions, notably on the history of the building and on themes related to science and technology.

Ticket office and reception : 

  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk in the building opposite the Atomium.

Toilets : 

  • Adapted toilets, but not compliant with accessibility standards, are available at the back of the reception area.

Accessibility :

  • Access for wheelchair users is limited to the panorama, which is accessible by lift.
  • The other levels of the Atomium are only accessible by escalator or staircase, which is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
  • There are currently no adapted tours for people with sensory impairments. Some guides adapt their tours for the visually impaired, allowing them to touch certain objects in the exhibition.
  • It is important to note that several of the Atomium's spheres and staircases incorporate lighting effects into their scenography. These stroboscopic lighting effects can be disturbing and even uncomfortable for some people.

Strong points

Staff
  • A reference person is present to welcome the persons with special needs.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Points of attention

Safety
  • The location is complex and it is difficult to understand its organisation.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk, located in the building opposite the Atomium.
  • There are adapted toilets at the back of reception, but these do not comply with accessibility standards.
  • Access for wheelchair users is limited to the panorama, which is accessible by lift.
  • The other levels of the Atomium are only accessible by escalator or staircase, which is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 100 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is accessible.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • There is a mobile payment device.
Horizontal circulation
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.

Points of attention

Vertical circulation
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is an adapted toilet, but it is difficult to use.
Exposition
  • The content of the exhibition is not accessible or visible for a person in a wheelchair.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk, located in the building opposite the Atomium.
  • Adapted toilets, although not compliant with accessibility standards, are available behind reception.
  • Access for people with walking difficulties is limited to the panorama, which is accessible by lift.
  • The other levels of the Atomium are only accessible by escalator or staircase, which is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 50 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
Access road from the street
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
Home
  • Seats are available near the reception.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.

Points of attention

Home
  • The reception is located more than 50 metres from the entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is a staircase with more than 6 steps to negotiate.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
  • The width of the lift door measures less than 80 cm.
Exposition
  • Due to the configuration of the premises, a part of the content is difficult to access.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk in the building opposite the Atomium.
  • There are currently no adapted tours for people with sensory impairments. Some guides adapt their tours for the visually impaired, allowing them to touch certain objects in the exhibition.

Strong points

Home
  • The reception has no glass partition.
  • The staff sees the persons coming into the building and can assist them.

Points of attention

Access road from the car park
  • There are no guide-lines in the large pathways.
Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
  • The staircases are not secured.
Home
  • The reception is hard to find.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are no guide-lines in the large pathways.
  • The pathway presents punctually a passage height of less than 2m.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secured by warning tiles at their top.
  • The staircases are not secure.
Exposition
  • No adapted tours are planned.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk in the building opposite the Atomium.
  • There are currently no adapted tours for people with sensory impairments. Some guides adapt their tours for the visually impaired, allowing them to touch certain objects in the exhibition.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • Natural or artificial guide-lines facilitate circulation.
Entrance
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
Entrance
  • There is no device allowing the identification of the entrance.
  • The entrance is hard to find.
Home
  • The reception is hard to find.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are dangerous objects in the pathway.
  • There are no guide-lines in contrasting colour facilitating circulation.
  • The pathway presents punctually a passage height of less than 2m.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.
Exposition
  • The written explanations are hard to read.
  • There is no visitor guide in large characters.
  • Due to the configuration of the premises, a part of the content is difficult to access.
  • No adapted tours are planned.
  • Access to the ticket office, located next to the entrance, is made easier by the presence of an internet connection. Ticket prices are clearly indicated. However, reception staff are not currently trained in sign language.  
  • The visit begins with the panorama ; the flooring in this area is difficult to walk on because of the steep slopes and inclines. Hearing-impaired visitors may feel unbalanced.
  • The Atomium does not offer tours adapted for the hearing impaired.
  • The content of the exhibition is very visual, but it is very dark and there are a lot of lighting effects that prevent lip-reading or sign language.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
Wireless
  • It is possible to connect to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.

Points of attention

Home
  • There is no staff member practicing sign language.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult.
Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • There are no organised guided tours in sign language.
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult.
  • Access to the ticket office, located next to the entrance, is made easier by the presence of an internet connection. Ticket prices are clearly indicated. However, reception staff are not currently trained in sign language.
  • The visit begins with the panorama ; the flooring in this area is difficult to walk on because of the steep slopes and inclines. Hearing-impaired visitors may feel unbalanced.
  • The Atomium does not offer tours adapted for the hearing impaired.
  • The content of the exhibition is very visual, but it is very dark and there are a lot of lighting effects that prevent lip-reading or sign language.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The reception is located in a quiet environment.
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.

Points of attention

Home
  • Depending on attendance, the reception can be very noisy.
  • The reception is hard to find.
Magnetic induction loop
  • There is no mobile induction loop.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .
Exposition
  • The environment is noisy.
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .
  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk in the building opposite the Atomium.
  • The lift experience is characterised by a rapid ascent in darkness, enhanced by lighting effects through the ceiling. The speed is breathtaking and provides an immersive sensation, comparable to a rocket launch.
  • The Atomium exhibition unfolds through the various spheres that make up the structure. Access to these spheres is provided exclusively by long flights of stairs or escalators. It is important to note that several of the Atomium's spheres and staircases incorporate lighting effects into their scenography. These stroboscopic lighting effects can be disturbing and even uncomfortable for some people.
  • There are currently no adapted tours for people with impaired understanding.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • It is possible to pay in cash (coins and notes).
Vertical circulation
  • The lift is easy to use or staff is available to help.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The entrance is hard to find.
  • There is no doorbell.
Home
  • Sometimes, the reception is very noisy.
Exposition
  • No adapted guided visits are organised.
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • The location is noisy.
  • The location is dark.
  • A part of the exhibition is in the dark.
  • There are fast plays of light (stroboscopic effects).
Access-i vous informe sur l'accessibilité de ce lieu, de par les données relevées sur place, à un instant T. Les modifications éventuelles après la visite d'Access-i relèvent de la responsabilité du gestionnaire.