The world exposition of Brussels in 1935 wasn´t motivated by modernism like the exposition of Chicago in 1933. The still existing main building was build in the formal language of historism and was used at the exposition of 1958 once more, but with an additional front.

At all world expositions the corresponding countries show themselve in their attribute as colonial ruler, in this part over Belgian Congo [1935 | 3]. For a time there had been realised specially colonial expositions.

Brussels had held some more world expositions before: 1888, 1897, 1910. In 1958 was the best known world expostion in Brussels. The Atomium was build as a mark of the exposition and this is above the Tour Eiffel of 1889 in Paris one of few remarkable buildings of world expositions, which still exists.

[1935 | 1] Italian pavilion; photograph by the family van Steenkiste
[1935 | 2] Swiss pavilion; photograph by the family van Steenkiste
[1935 | 3] Colonial exposition of Congo; photograph by the family van Steenkiste