She launched this iconic concept in 2015 to pay homage to Belgian culture and to display her status as ambassador of the country, she says. It all started with Rackham, this plane on which we can see the famous Tintin submersible in the shape of a shark.
In one month, more than 900 proposals were received. The company selected 15 and after an online public vote which counted some 50,000 votes, only five drawings remained. Lucky Luke, cycling, the Coquelicots of the “Flanders Fields”, the shrimp fishermen and the Atomium were then decided by a jury composed in particular of Philippe Geluck (Le Chat), Alex Callier (Hooverphonic) and Gabrielle Szwarcenberg (designer of Brussels Airlines uniforms).
And so it was the Atomium which was chosen.
“It’s obviously a source of immense pride. My proposal was chosen among more than 900 others, that’s no small thing.testifies Thomas Faes. It’s a bit like I’m living a childhood dream.”
A drawing made at the last minute
This architect explains having followed the arrival of Belgian icons in the Brussels Airlines fleet. “In 2018, there was already a competition and it was the Smurfs who won. But it hadn’t crossed my mind to participate. On the other hand, this summer, when I saw the call for projects on social networks, I said to myself: why not?”
Thomas Faes first moved towards Art Nouveau, in line with his studies, his profession and his tastes. He made two proposals on this theme.
Folon, Manneken-Pis, Marsupilami, Lucky Luke, Atomium… What will the new Brussels Airlines planes look like? Here are the 15 drawings selected
But doubt crept into his head. Does Art Nouveau speak to the majority of people? Is it universal enough? It was then that the Atomium seemed obvious to him. “Everyone can relate to him. It is the Belgian symbol par excellence. This Monday morning, I was at the Atomium: we see a very rich diversity of people there: children, elderly people, Belgians, foreigners. This building speaks to everyone and it has something regressive in it in that it awakens childhood memories in us.”
At the last minute, Thomas Faes produced a third drawing.
But how can you reproduce a vertical monument on the horizontal fuselage of an airplane? This was the challenge to be taken up. “We all have the image of the Atomium in its entirety with its nine recognizable spheres between 1000. But I was obliged to start with a fragmentary vision of the building. A bit like the Atomium does in its communication on social networks: it often uses some of the spheres, the sky which are reflected above. That’s what I played on.”
With success since his drawing was able to convince both the public and the jury. “I activated all my possible circles, but to be accepted, my proposal also had to reach people I knew neither from Eve nor from Adam. It’s a sign that the Atomium speaks to people. Then, the jury deliberated and validated the choice among the five finalists. So it wasn’t just a popularity contest.”
For the anecdote, the architect also tells that once his three drawings were sent, in a moment of doubt, he asked ChatGPT so that the artificial intelligence interface could give him 20 icons that could be represented on an airplane. Then he asked her to pick just one. “Did the Atomium answer me?
Already references to the Atomium in the flight crew uniform
Obvious! Especially since there is no shortage of references to the Brussels monument within Brussels Airlines. We find them subtly on the scarves of the hostesses and the ties of the stewards. The nine red balls of the company also echo the spheres of the Atomium while “I have already had confirmation of a return flight from the company resuming its image”smiles Thomas Faes who, in addition to the honor of seeing his project become reality, wins plane tickets.
This Monday, he met for the first time the team of designers who will transform his sketch into a project that can be painted on the cabin of an Airbus A320 while respecting, of course, all the safety standards in force. “In itself, participating in this part of the work is already a real reward.”
He also gave ideas for interior designs. “The Atomium’s light signature is very recognizable. If we can integrate it into the cabin of the plane, that would be great. It remains to be seen whether this is possible in terms of security, etc..” Because everything must be certified.
The plane should be presented at the end of March. It will fly for at least five years, with an aircraft’s paintwork having to be redone after a while.
“I can’t wait to see the result. And I can already imagine my son seeing it and saying that it’s my dad’s plane…”
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