Louis Delacenserie
Encyclopedia
Louis Delacenserie was a Belgian architect from Bruges
. The spelling of his name differs greatly; De la Censerie, Delasencerie, Dela Censerie or Dela Sencerie are the most common alternative forms. His father was a merchant and building contractor from Tournai
.
Delacenserie studied architecture at the Académie of his native city under Jean-Brunon Rudd (1792–1870). He was a laureate of the Prix de Rome
in 1862. This prize enabled him to travel to Paris, Italy and Greece where he could admire masterpieces of antique architecture. After his studies he worked for a while in the office of Louis Roelandt
, architect to the city of Ghent
who worked in the Neo-Classical
style. In his early career Delacenserie adopted the Neo-Classical style of his teachers. After he was appointed architect to the city of Bruges he became involved in the Belgian Gothic Revival movement. He led many "restorations" of the rich Gothic architectural heritage of his native city. This made him familiar with the Gothic brick and sandstone architecture of medieval Flanders
. Thanks to his profound knowledge of medieval architecture he was able to imitate this historic style in all its details although he often used new construction techniques and materials in his own original creations.
At the pinnacle of his career Delacenserie made the designs for the central station
in Antwerp. In this design he made use of a rather eclectic Neo-Renaissance
style that refers to the economic and artistic prime of the city in the 16th-century. Some aspects of this edifice, like the use of colours and materials, were clearly influenced by Art Nouveau
architecture.
:
Some of his new original projects:
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. The spelling of his name differs greatly; De la Censerie, Delasencerie, Dela Censerie or Dela Sencerie are the most common alternative forms. His father was a merchant and building contractor from Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
.
Delacenserie studied architecture at the Académie of his native city under Jean-Brunon Rudd (1792–1870). He was a laureate of the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome (Belgium)
The Belgian Prix de Rome is an award for young artists, created in 1832, following the example of the original French Prix de Rome. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp organised the prize until 1920, when the national government took over. The first prize is also sometimes called the Grand Prix...
in 1862. This prize enabled him to travel to Paris, Italy and Greece where he could admire masterpieces of antique architecture. After his studies he worked for a while in the office of Louis Roelandt
Louis Roelandt
Louis Roelandt or Lodewijk Joseph Adriaan Roelandt with his full Dutch name, was a Belgian architect that played an important role in the evolution of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Classical architecture in Belgium....
, architect to the city of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
who worked in the Neo-Classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style. In his early career Delacenserie adopted the Neo-Classical style of his teachers. After he was appointed architect to the city of Bruges he became involved in the Belgian Gothic Revival movement. He led many "restorations" of the rich Gothic architectural heritage of his native city. This made him familiar with the Gothic brick and sandstone architecture of medieval Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. Thanks to his profound knowledge of medieval architecture he was able to imitate this historic style in all its details although he often used new construction techniques and materials in his own original creations.
At the pinnacle of his career Delacenserie made the designs for the central station
Central station (Antwerp)
Antwerpen-Centraal is the name of the main railway station in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The station is operated by the national railway company NMBS.- History and architecture :...
in Antwerp. In this design he made use of a rather eclectic Neo-Renaissance
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
style that refers to the economic and artistic prime of the city in the 16th-century. Some aspects of this edifice, like the use of colours and materials, were clearly influenced by Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
architecture.
Works
Some restoration projects in BrugesBruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
:
- Basilica of the Holy Blood (1870–1877)
- Tolhuis (1879)
- Hof van Gruuthuse (Gruuthuse Museum) (1883–1895) (east and south wings)
- Town hall and Belfry of BrugesBelfry of BrugesThe belfry of Bruges, or Belfort, is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Bruges, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger...
(1894–1895 and 1903–1904) - Sashuis (1895–1897)
- Poortersloge (1899–1903)
- West front of the Church of Our LadyChurch of Our Lady, BrugesThe Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.Its tower, at 122.3 meters in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th,...
(1905–1909).
Some of his new original projects:
- City hall of DiksmuideDiksmuideDiksmuide is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Diksmuide proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle,...
(1877–1900) - Castle Bloemendale, Beernem (1878)
- Palace of the Provincial Council (Provinciaal hof) in Bruges.
- School (Normaalschool) in Bruges (1880–1883)
- Nieuw Sint-Janshospitaal (New Saint-Johns Hospital) in Bruges.
- Sint-Petrus-en-PauluskerkSint-Petrus-en-PauluskerkSint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk , the main church of Ostend, Belgium, is a Roman Catholic Neo-Gothic church.It is built on the ashes of a previous church that occupied the site. King Leopold II enthusiastically supported a plan to build a new and more magnificent church...
in OstendOstendOstend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
(1899–1905). - Post Office in Bruges. (1901–1905)
- Central station of AntwerpCentral station (Antwerp)Antwerpen-Centraal is the name of the main railway station in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The station is operated by the national railway company NMBS.- History and architecture :...
(1895–1905)