Joseph Poelaert
Encyclopedia
Joseph Poelaert was a Belgian
architect
.
in Brussels, Poelaert also trained there under Tilman-François Suys
, and then in Paris under Louis Visconti and Jean-Nicolas Huyot
.
Poelaert first came to attention with his winning competition entry for the Congress Column
in 1849. He was made city architect of Brussels in 1856.
Poelaert's most significant commission was the colossal Law Courts of Brussels
, the largest single building constructed in the 19th Century, admired by Adolf Hitler
, and even copied in smaller scale at the Palace of Justice in Peru
.
During construction the inhabitants of the Marollen
quarter, the working-class neighbourhood site of the Law Courts, gave Poelaert the nickname “Skieven Architect” (roughly, ‘the crooked architect’) because the long period of construction drove many inhabitants out of their houses, with the help of the local police. The nickname refers also to "chief architect" because many of the workers of the Law Courts were English. The local inhabitants corrupted "chief architect" to "skieven architect", with a totally different meaning in the Brussels dialect.
We remember here that Poelaert himself was residing in the heart of the Marolles rue des Minimes in a house adjoining his vast offices and workshops and communicating with them.
Poelaert Place, the largest square in Brussels, lies before the courts building.
He is buried in Laeken Cemetery
under a miniature version of his own Palais de Justice. Poelaert was the great-uncle of Belgian architect Henri Van Dievoet
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Life
Born in Brussels to Philip Poelaert (1790–1875), a former architecture student at the Académie Royale des Beaux-ArtsAcadémie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels is an art school, founded in 1711.The faculty and alumni of ARBA include some of the most famous names in Belgian painting, sculpture, and architecture: James Ensor, Rene Magritte, and Paul Delvaux...
in Brussels, Poelaert also trained there under Tilman-François Suys
Tilman-François Suys
Tilman-François Suys or Tieleman Frans Suys , was a Belgian architect who also worked in the Netherlands....
, and then in Paris under Louis Visconti and Jean-Nicolas Huyot
Jean-Nicolas Huyot
Jean-Nicholas Huyot was a French architect, best known for his 1823 continuation of work on the Arc de Triomphe from the plans of Jean Chalgrin....
.
Poelaert first came to attention with his winning competition entry for the Congress Column
Congress Column
The Congress Column is a monument situated on the Place du Congrès / Congresplein in Brussels. It commemorates the formation of the Belgian state and constitution by the National Congress in 1830-1831. It was erected on the initiative of Charles Rogier after a design by Joseph Poelaert between...
in 1849. He was made city architect of Brussels in 1856.
Poelaert's most significant commission was the colossal Law Courts of Brussels
Law Courts of Brussels
The Law Courts of Brussels or Brussels Palace of Justice is the most important Court building in Belgium, and is a notable landmark of Brussels. It was built between 1866 and 1883 in the eclectic style by architect Joseph Poelaert...
, the largest single building constructed in the 19th Century, admired by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, and even copied in smaller scale at the Palace of Justice in Peru
Palace of Justice (Peru)
The Palace of Justice is the seat of the Supreme Court of Peru. It is located in the Lima District of the city of Lima, capital of Peru. Construction started during the second government of Augusto B. Leguía and finished under the presidency of Óscar R. Benavides, who inaugurated the building in...
.
During construction the inhabitants of the Marollen
Marollen
Marolles or Marollen is an ancient district of Brussels, situated between the Law Courts of Brussels and the Brussels-South railway station. In the heart of Marollen can be found the Église de la Chapelle/Kapellekerk and the Place du Jeu de balle/Vossenplein...
quarter, the working-class neighbourhood site of the Law Courts, gave Poelaert the nickname “Skieven Architect” (roughly, ‘the crooked architect’) because the long period of construction drove many inhabitants out of their houses, with the help of the local police. The nickname refers also to "chief architect" because many of the workers of the Law Courts were English. The local inhabitants corrupted "chief architect" to "skieven architect", with a totally different meaning in the Brussels dialect.
We remember here that Poelaert himself was residing in the heart of the Marolles rue des Minimes in a house adjoining his vast offices and workshops and communicating with them.
Poelaert Place, the largest square in Brussels, lies before the courts building.
He is buried in Laeken Cemetery
Laeken Cemetery
The Laeken Cemetery , located in Laeken in the northern part of Brussels, is one of the major cemeteries in Belgium.-Description:...
under a miniature version of his own Palais de Justice. Poelaert was the great-uncle of Belgian architect Henri Van Dievoet
Henri Van Dievoet
Henri van Dievoet was a Belgian architect.-Biography:Van Dievoet belonged to an old family of Brussels descended from the Sweerts family, one of the Seven noble houses of Brussels, which had already shone in the fine arts of the time of Louis XIV...
.
Work
- the Congress ColumnCongress ColumnThe Congress Column is a monument situated on the Place du Congrès / Congresplein in Brussels. It commemorates the formation of the Belgian state and constitution by the National Congress in 1830-1831. It was erected on the initiative of Charles Rogier after a design by Joseph Poelaert between...
, 1850–1859 - the church Sainte-Cathérine/Kathelijnkerk in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, 1854–1874 - the Church of Our Lady of LaekenChurch of Our Lady of LaekenThe Church of Our Lady of Laeken is a neo-Gothic Roman Catholic church in Laeken, Brussels. It was originally built in memory of Queen Louise-Marie, wife of King Leopold I to the design of architect Joseph Poelaert....
, site of the Royal Crypt of the Belgian royal family, begun 1854, consecrated in 1872, completed 1909 - restoration of the Théatre Royal de la MonnaieLa MonnaieLe Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie , or the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg is a theatre in Brussels, Belgium....
, Brussels, after the fire of 1855 - Law Courts of BrusselsLaw Courts of BrusselsThe Law Courts of Brussels or Brussels Palace of Justice is the most important Court building in Belgium, and is a notable landmark of Brussels. It was built between 1866 and 1883 in the eclectic style by architect Joseph Poelaert...
, 1866–1883