Beneath this neoclassical facade lies a secret. The Royal Rinking opened in 1877 as the world’s first roller-skating rink. It is located on Rue Veydt.
Imagine the Brussels elite gliding across the polished floors. This spectacular building was designed by architect Gérard Maréchal. Maréchal also designed many houses for the middle classes in the Saint-Gilles district. The Royal Rinking boasted a magnificent timber and iron roof. This roof employed a frame system invented by the French engineer Camille Polonceau.
Roller-skating was a very popular and fashionable sport in nineteenth-century Brussels. It was popular all over Europe. The Royal Rinking was a complex of industrial buildings. It contained a huge hall dedicated to roller-skating.
Fast forward to the early 20th century. The Royal Rinking transformed into something quite different. Théodore Pilette, a Belgian racing champion, turned it into a car showroom. Old photographs reveal luxury cars lined up inside. Bugattis and Packards gleamed under the same roof that once echoed with the sounds of roller skates.
The roller-skating rink closed in 1900. In 1905, a hanger was added on the rue Faider side.
For many years, the building was abandoned. Its glory faded. Then, in 2007, art dealer Valérie Bach saw its potential. She purchased this remarkable complex with Philippe Austry. Between 2011 and 2015, she restored it as a contemporary art gallery. The conversion and restoration project was managed by the architect Jean-Paul Hermant. The interiors and exhibition spaces were created by interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch.
Today, the Royal Rinking is a huge contemporary art center. It is as big as many museums. Valérie Bach exhibits sculptures and paintings here. She showcases them in a series of stunning spaces on three levels.
The main space has hosted stunning installations. One example is the Op Art installation by Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez. It was a work you could only experience by walking through.
The Royal Rinking stands as a testament to Brussels’ evolving spirit. From a haven for roller-skating enthusiasts. To a showroom for luxury automobiles. And now, a vibrant center for contemporary art. It is a place where history and art converge. The Royal Rinking invites us to reflect on the transformations of time.