Henri Beyaert
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Hendrik Beyaert ( Dutch) or Henri Beyaert ( French) (29 July 1823 – 22 January 1894) was a Belgian architect. He is responsible for the designs of the
Palace of the Nation The Palace of the Nation (; ; ) is a neoclassical palace in Brussels, Belgium, housing the Belgian Federal Parliament. The Parliament consists of both the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house), which convene in ...
, the
National Bank of Belgium The National Bank of Belgium (NBB; , NBB; , BNB; , BNB) is the National central bank (Eurosystem), national central bank for Belgium within the Eurosystem. It was the Belgian central bank from 1850 until 1998, established by law of and issuin ...
and Bornem Castle, among many other significant buildings.


Biography

Beyaert was of very humble descent. For this reason he had to earn his living from a very young age onwards. Initially he and his family could not afford to finance higher studies. At age 19, Beyaert worked as a bank employee at the
National Bank of Belgium The National Bank of Belgium (NBB; , NBB; , BNB; , BNB) is the National central bank (Eurosystem), national central bank for Belgium within the Eurosystem. It was the Belgian central bank from 1850 until 1998, established by law of and issuin ...
's office in his native city,
Kortrijk Kortrijk ( , ; or ''Kortrik''; ), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of We ...
. He found his profession not very indulging and decided to quit the bank. As he had always been fascinated by architecture, he found a post as an apprentice stonemason on the building site of the new railway station of
Tournai Tournai ( , ; ; ; , sometimes Anglicisation (linguistics), anglicised in older sources as "Tournay") is a city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Hainaut Province, Province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies by ...
, a building that would be replaced decades later by a design of Beyaert himself. In 1842, Beyaert went to
Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
where he kept a small bookshop to earn his living and where he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts to attend architectural courses. The following year, he met the architect Félix Janlet who believed in the young Beyaert's exceptional qualities and who offered him a job in his office. Due to this job and to a small scholarship granted to him by the city of Kortrijk, Beyaert could finish his architectural studies at the Academy, which he completed in 1846. There, he studied with Tilman-François Suys whom he was largely influenced by during the first years of his career as an independent architect. Beyaert gradually moved away from the neoclassical style of his master and began to experiment with a neo-
Louis XVI style Louis XVI style, also called ''Louis Seize'', is a style of architecture, furniture, decoration and art which developed in France during the 19-year reign of Louis XVI (1774–1792), just before the French Revolution. It saw the final phase of t ...
in the mansions he built along the / and the / in Brussels. Beyaert's first public commission was the Head Office of his former employer, the National Bank of Belgium (1859–1867). This cooperation with the architect Wynand Janssens resulted in a lavish neo-
Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
building heavily influenced by the new style propagated in Paris, known as Second Empire. The critical success that it enjoyed, together with Beyaert's connections with the powerful Liberal Party, led to many other commissions, beginning with the De Brouckère fountain (1866), now on the Square Jan Palfijn/Jan Palfijnplein in
Laeken (French language, French, ) or (Dutch language, Dutch, ) is a residential suburb in the north-western part of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. It belongs to the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, municipality of the ...
. Other major works followed in rapid succession. In his major renovation projects of medieval buildings, such as the Halle Gate (a vestige of the medieval fortifications of Brussels), he was influenced by the French architect and theoretician Viollet-le-Duc. This realisation played an important role in Beyaert's architectural development for it made him aware of the importance and beauty of the local architectural styles from the late
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
and the early
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
. Beyaert's style largely shifted to the so-called "Flemish Renaissance Revival" which, partly under his influence, would become a very popular "national" style in the last quarter of the 19th century. Other works included the
Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
office of the National Bank of Belgium (1874–1879), built on a clever triangular plan, Tournai railway station (1875–1879, damaged in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
), and the Kegeljan-Godin House (1878–1880) in
Namur Namur (; ; ) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration. Namur stands at the confl ...
. All had a similar, vaguely Flemish Renaissance or Baroque Revival flavour. In 1876, however, Beyaert publicly denied being a partisan of the nascent Flemish Renaissance Revival movement in Belgium, although the proponents of this movement had wished to align his creations to their own. With his passion for study and novelties (Beyaert possessed an extensive library on the history of architecture and the decorative arts), his buildings became increasingly charged with historical ornamentation, without however lacking a clear structural basis. In an architectural contest following the covering of the river Senne (1867–1871), Beyaert's or (loosely, "House of Cats") took first prize. It was built along the new central boulevards in Brussels and showed clear affinities with the famous Guild Houses at the nearby Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). Beyaert also designed a number of country houses, including the "Romantic" Château de Faulx-les-Tombes near Namur (1872), which was highly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc's restoration of the
Château de Pierrefonds The Château de Pierrefonds () is a castle situated in the commune of Pierrefonds in the Oise department in the Hauts-de-France region, Northern France. It is located on the southeast edge of the forest of Compiègne, northeast of Paris, betw ...
, and the Flemish Renaissance Revival Castle of Wespelaar (1881–87) in the province of Brabant. Although Beyaert had been interested in urban planning since the early 1860s, he could only realise one of his urban design projects: the Petit Sablon Square (1880) in Brussels. It consists of a small park on a trapezium-shaped site, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence of inventive design. His final realisation, crowning an impressive architectural career, is the Ministry of Railways, Post, Telegraph and Navy in Brussels. This project shows Beyaert's ability to cope with a rich ornamentation without attacking the structural integrity of the building. While certainly revivalist in character, his strongly geometric architecture imitated only the spirit and seldom the details of historical models. His own details were highly original. They were part of an architecture of space and structure rather than of mere decorative appearance. In this respect, Beyaert would become instrumental in the formation of a new generation of architects, such as Paul Hankar and
Victor Horta Victor Pierre Horta (; Victor, Baron Horta after 1932; 6 January 1861 – 8 September 1947) was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. He was a fervent admirer of the French architectural theoris ...
, that would play an important part in the evolution of
Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...
architecture. He became a member of the
Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium The Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium ( , sometimes referred to as ' ) is the independent learned society of science and arts of the French Community of Belgium. One of Belgium's numerous academies, it is the French-speak ...
in 1888.


List of works


Private commissions

* 1851: Mansion, / 26, in Brussels * 1858–1860: Mansions, / 5–7–9, in Brussels * 1865–1868: Faulx-les-Tombes Castle (), in Faulx-les-Tombes (renovations and extensions) * 1870: Concert Noble
ballroom A ballroom or ballhall is a large room inside a building, the primary purpose of which is holding large formal parties called ''balls''. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions and palaces, especially histori ...
, / 82, in Brussels * 1874: or , Boulevard Adolphe Max/Adolphe Maxlaan 1, in Brussels * 1880: Kegeljan-Godin House in
Namur Namur (; ; ) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration. Namur stands at the confl ...
* 1881–1883: Wespelaar Castle in Wespelaar (demolished) * 1883–1894: Bornem Castle (), in
Bornem Bornem (; old spelling: ''Bornhem'') is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises the village of Bornem proper, Hingene, and Weert, Antwerp, Weer ...
(renovations and extensions) File:Faulx-les-Tombes JPG01.jpg, Faulx-les-Tombes Castle (1865–1868) File:Concert Noble Brussels 11.JPG, Concert Noble, Brussels (1870) File:Kasteel Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde3.JPG, Bornem Castle,
Bornem Bornem (; old spelling: ''Bornhem'') is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises the village of Bornem proper, Hingene, and Weert, Antwerp, Weer ...
(1883–1894)


Public and semi-public commissions

* 1859–1867: Head Office of the
National Bank of Belgium The National Bank of Belgium (NBB; , NBB; , BNB; , BNB) is the National central bank (Eurosystem), national central bank for Belgium within the Eurosystem. It was the Belgian central bank from 1850 until 1998, established by law of and issuin ...
, /, in Brussels * 1860–1878: Office of the National Bank of Belgium, Berlaymontlaan, today Frankrijklei, in
Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
* 1866: De Brouckère Fountain, Porte de Namur/Naamsepoort, in Brussels (moved in 1957 to the /, in
Laeken (French language, French, ) or (Dutch language, Dutch, ) is a residential suburb in the north-western part of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. It belongs to the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, municipality of the ...
) * 1868–1871: Restoration and conversion into a museum of the Halle Gate (a former city gate), in Brussels * 1874–1879: Tournai railway station (), in
Tournai Tournai ( , ; ; ; , sometimes Anglicisation (linguistics), anglicised in older sources as "Tournay") is a city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Hainaut Province, Province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies by ...
* 1875–1879: Office building of the
National Bank of Belgium The National Bank of Belgium (NBB; , NBB; , BNB; , BNB) is the National central bank (Eurosystem), national central bank for Belgium within the Eurosystem. It was the Belgian central bank from 1850 until 1998, established by law of and issuin ...
, in Antwerp * 1876–1877: School in
Soignies Soignies (; , ; ; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It consists of the following districts: Casteau, Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies, Horrues, Naast, Neufvilles, Soignies and Thieusies. Casteau is k ...
* 1879–1882: Church of St. Joseph des Tombes, in Faulx-les-Tombes (decoration by the architect Paul Hankar) * 1879–1899: Square du Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavelsquare, in Brussels * 1883–1886:
Palace of the Nation The Palace of the Nation (; ; ) is a neoclassical palace in Brussels, Belgium, housing the Belgian Federal Parliament. The Parliament consists of both the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house), which convene in ...
, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, in Brussels (reconstruction and renovation) * 1886–1894: St. Martin's Church (), in Everberg (restoration and extension; decoration Paul Hankar and Adolphe Crespin) * 1890: Office building for the Caisse générale d'épargne et de retraite (ASLK/CGER), /, in Brussels * 1890–1894: Ministry of Railways, Post, Telegraph and Navy, /, in Brussels File: Fontaine Debrouckère 901.jpg, De Brouckère Fountain, Brussels (1866) File:Porte de Hal 01.JPG, Halle Gate, Brussels (1868–1871) File:Eglise-Faulx-les-Tombes.JPG, Church of St. Joseph des Tombes, Faulx-les-Tombes (1879–1882) File:Palais de la Nation (DSC01812).jpg,
Palace of the Nation The Palace of the Nation (; ; ) is a neoclassical palace in Brussels, Belgium, housing the Belgian Federal Parliament. The Parliament consists of both the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house), which convene in ...
, Brussels (1883–1886)


References

* W. Pluym a.o., ''The Hôtel of the governor of the National Bank of Belgium'', Antwerp, 1995. * ''Exposition de l’oeuvre de Henri Beyaert'', exhibition catalogue, Brussels, Musées Royaux des Arts Décoratifs et Industriel, 1904. * J. Kennes, J. Vanderperren and J. Victoir, ''L’Architecture éclectique d’Henri Beyaert'', Brussels, 1978. * J. Neirynck and F. Neirynck, ''Travaux d’architecture exécutés en Belgique par Henri Beyaert, architecte'', 2 vols., Brussels, 1881–1895. * J. Victoir and J. Vanderperren, ''Henri Beyaert: Du classicisme à l’art nouveau'', St Martens-Latem, 1992. * J. Victoir and J. Vanderperren, ''Hendrik Beyaert. Van Classicisme tot Art Nouveau'', Sint-Martens-Latem, 1992.


External links


Hendrik Beyaert on the 100 francs banknote

The "Concert Noble" ballroom in Brussels designed by Beyaert
* Porte de Hal / Hallepoort on Wikipedia in French {{DEFAULTSORT:Beyaert, Hendrik Art Nouveau architects 19th-century Belgian architects People from Kortrijk Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium 1823 births 1894 deaths