Cultural infrastructure shapes public life. People cross paths, meet and share common emotions. The mere presence of a public building can breathe new life into a neighbourhood and its residents. It is with this conviction that the renovation of the Ougrée-Marihaye (OM) complex has begun. In Seraing, in the province of Liège, the abandoned building has fallen into disuse. However, it retains the grandeur of its spaces and is clearly destined for its new role as a music complex. For Atelier Chora, which is carrying out the renovation, the aim is to refloat this ‘shipwrecked liner on the banks of the Meuse’.

L’Ougrée-Marihaye has always held a special place in the hearts of the people of Seraing. Designed in 1948 by Georges Dedoyard, an iconic figure in modernist architecture in Liège, the building reflects the principles of its industrial past. Skilfully configured to suit the uneven terrain, it asserts its public status with its rounded main façade opening onto the city. The building housed the steel company’s social services and cultural facilities and hosted many community events, such as Saint Nicholas Day and the workers’ medal ceremony. Originally designed for a private company, it is now being transformed into a public building. This change of use is a step towards the city, as it now offers the public a place for gathering and culture that promotes social interaction and restores the building’s role in the neighbourhood.