Renaat Braem
Encyclopedia
Renaat Braem was a leading Belgian architect in the latter half of the twentieth century.
in Antwerp in 1935, with a constructivism
-inspired design for a linear city between Antwerp and Liège. He received the biannual Prix Godecharle
the same year.
Braem used the money of the award to study abroad, working at the studio of Le Corbusier
in 1936 and 1937. He became a member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
in 1937, and his first architectural realisations in these pre-war years were rooted firmly in the new "modern" style.
He became one of Belgium's most prominent architects in the early 1950s, when he received two commissions from the city council of Antwerp: the development of the Administratif Center in the heart of the city, and a social housing
project in Het Kiel, a neighborhood in the suburbs. The Administratif Center was only partly realised ten years later, and the one tower that was actually built in the end became the Police Tower, the headquarters of the Antwerp police force. The social housing project though became a landmark in the history of social housing in Belgium and one of the most important architectural realisations of the 1950s.
Over the next two decades, Braem created many projects, ranging from private buildings to large scale housing complexes in Leuven
, Brussels
, Deurne and Boom. His work was faithful to the Athens Charter
of the CIAM until the late 1960s, when his work became less rigid and more organic.
Braem was also an important figure in the study and debate of modern architecture in Belgium, cofounding important magazines like Plan, Architecture, or Bouwen en Wonen, writing articles, and being interviewed for radio, television and newspapers. He was one of the oginators of the Bouwcentrum in Antwerp, which tried to promote the industrialisation of the work of building through education and prototyping. In 1968, he wrote Het lelijkste land ter wereld ("The most ugly country in the world"), an essay against the postwar spatial planning
of Belgium with an ecological warning as well.
Renaat Braem published his memoirs Het schoonste land ter wereld (The most beautiful country in the world) in 1987. He moved to a nursing home in 1997. His private home, built in 1955, and all its contents (archive, library, furniture) was legated to the Flemish Community in 1999. He died in 2001 in Essen
. His house was transformed into a museum, the second of its kind in Belgium after the Horta Museum
in Brussels.
An exhibition on the life and work of Renaat Braem takes place in 2010, to celebrate his centenary - www.braem2010.be.
Biography
Renaat Braem was born in Antwerp in 1910. He graduated as an architect from the Royal Academy of Fine ArtsRoyal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp is an art academy located in Antwerp, Belgium. It is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. It was founded in 1663 by David Teniers the Younger, painter to the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm and Don Juan of Austria...
in Antwerp in 1935, with a constructivism
Constructivist architecture
Constructivist architecture was a form of modern architecture that flourished in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and early 1930s. It combined advanced technology and engineering with an avowedly Communist social purpose. Although it was divided into several competing factions, the movement produced...
-inspired design for a linear city between Antwerp and Liège. He received the biannual Prix Godecharle
Gilles-Lambert Godecharle
Gilles-Lambert Godecharle was a Belgian sculptor, a pupil of Laurent Delvaux, "the only sculptor of international repute in Delvaux's retinue", who became one of two outstanding representatives of Neoclassicism in the Austrian Netherlands.In response to his early promise, empress Maria Theresa...
the same year.
Braem used the money of the award to study abroad, working at the studio of Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
in 1936 and 1937. He became a member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
The Congrès internationaux d'architecture moderne – CIAM was an organization founded in 1928 and disbanded in 1959, responsible for a series of events and congresses arranged around the world by the most prominent architects of the time, with the objective of spreading the principles of the Modern...
in 1937, and his first architectural realisations in these pre-war years were rooted firmly in the new "modern" style.
He became one of Belgium's most prominent architects in the early 1950s, when he received two commissions from the city council of Antwerp: the development of the Administratif Center in the heart of the city, and a social housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
project in Het Kiel, a neighborhood in the suburbs. The Administratif Center was only partly realised ten years later, and the one tower that was actually built in the end became the Police Tower, the headquarters of the Antwerp police force. The social housing project though became a landmark in the history of social housing in Belgium and one of the most important architectural realisations of the 1950s.
Over the next two decades, Braem created many projects, ranging from private buildings to large scale housing complexes in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Deurne and Boom. His work was faithful to the Athens Charter
Athens Charter
The Athens Charter, or Charte d'Athènes was a document about urban planning published by the Swiss architect, Le Corbusier in 1943. The work was based upon Le Corbusier’s Ville Radieuse book of 1935 and urban studies undertaken by the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne in the early...
of the CIAM until the late 1960s, when his work became less rigid and more organic.
Braem was also an important figure in the study and debate of modern architecture in Belgium, cofounding important magazines like Plan, Architecture, or Bouwen en Wonen, writing articles, and being interviewed for radio, television and newspapers. He was one of the oginators of the Bouwcentrum in Antwerp, which tried to promote the industrialisation of the work of building through education and prototyping. In 1968, he wrote Het lelijkste land ter wereld ("The most ugly country in the world"), an essay against the postwar spatial planning
Spatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Discrete professional disciplines which involve spatial planning include land use planning, urban planning, regional planning, transport planning and...
of Belgium with an ecological warning as well.
Renaat Braem published his memoirs Het schoonste land ter wereld (The most beautiful country in the world) in 1987. He moved to a nursing home in 1997. His private home, built in 1955, and all its contents (archive, library, furniture) was legated to the Flemish Community in 1999. He died in 2001 in Essen
Essen, Belgium
Essen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Essen Centrum, Heikant, Horendonk, Wildert, Statie en Hoek. On January 1, 2007 Essen had a total population of 17,143. The total area is 47.48 km² which gives a population density of 358...
. His house was transformed into a museum, the second of its kind in Belgium after the Horta Museum
Horta Museum
The Horta Museum is a museum dedicated to the life and work of the Belgian Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta and his time. The museum is housed in Horta's former house and atelier, Maison & Atelier Horta , in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles...
in Brussels.
An exhibition on the life and work of Renaat Braem takes place in 2010, to celebrate his centenary - www.braem2010.be.
Major works
- House P. Van den Berghe (1935), Dichtersstraat 82, Antwerp
- House Janssens (1936), Van Erstenstraat 73, Antwerp, winner of the Prize Van de Ven
- Two-family house Chantraine-Vantvelt (1936), Frans Stienletlaan 33-35, Antwerp
- Two-family house (1937), Sorbenlaan 57, Antwerp
- "Handel", Art DecoArt DecoArt deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
highrise (1944), Van Havrelei 25, Antwerp - Monument of the Resistance (1945), Weerstandsplein, DiestDiestDiest is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of...
- House (1946–1948), Hulstenweg 13, ZoerselZoerselZoersel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Halle, St. Antonius and Zoersel proper. On January 1, 2010 Zoersel had a total population of 21,308...
- House (1948), Berkenlaan 43, KraainemKraainemKraainem is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Kraainem proper. On January 1, 2006 Kraainem had a total population of 13,150...
- House Georges Brewaeys and studio-house Aimé De Martelaere (1948–1950), Schotensesteenweg 301-303, Antwerp
- Youth hostel (1949), Gagelhoflaan 26, ZoerselZoerselZoersel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Halle, St. Antonius and Zoersel proper. On January 1, 2010 Zoersel had a total population of 21,308...
- Neighborhood (1951–1958), Kiel, Antwerp (800 housing units)
- House (1952), Polygoonstraat 9, Antwerp
- Administrative center (1952–1967), Oudaan 11, Antwerp
- House Rik de Roover (1954), Luchtvaartstraat 28, Antwerp
- Two-family house (1955), Auwegemvaart 106-107, MechelenMechelenMechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, built for graphical artist Ray Gilles - Private house of Renaat Braem (1955), Menegemlei 23, Antwerp
- Model city (1955–1957), HeyselHeyselHeysel or Heizel , is an area in Brussels and may in particular refer to:* Heysel Park, a part of Brussels* Heysel Metro Station, one of the metro stations on line 6 of the Brussels Metro...
, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(1200 houses) - Neighboorhood Kruiskenslei (1957–1977), Boom
- House Nagels (1958), Drabstraat 252, MortselMortselMortsel is a city and municipality close to the city of Antwerp located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the city of Mortsel proper. On January 1, 2006 Mortsel had a total population of 24,427 people. The total area is 7.78 km² which gives a population density of...
- House van Hellem (1959), Brusselsesteenweg 411, AsseAsseAsse is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Asse proper, Bekkerzeel, Kobbegem, Mollem, Relegem and Zellik. On January 1, 2006 Asse had a total population of 29,191...
- Corner house (1960), Vlaamshoofdlaan 20, Antwerp
- Jan-Pieter Minckelerstraat (1960–1970), LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
- Sint-Maartenstraat (1960–1968), LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
- House Van den Branden (1962–63): Lievevrouwestraat 66, RanstRanstRanst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Broechem, Emblem, Oelegem and Ranst proper. On January 1, 2006 Ranst had a total population of 17,827. The total area is 43.58 km² which gives a population density of 409 inhabitants per km²....
- Kindergarten (1963), Sint-Gummarusstraat 2, Antwerp
- House Alsteens (1966–1969), Dobralaan 28, OverijseOverijseOverijse is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410...
- House (1966), Kasteelstraat 76, OverijseOverijseOverijse is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410...
- House Van Humbeeck (1967), Pastorijstraat 3, BuggenhoutBuggenhoutBuggenhout is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the towns of Buggenhout proper, Briel, Opdorp, and Opstal. On January 1, 2006 Buggenhout had a total population of 13,840. The total area is 25.25 square kilometres, which gives a...
- House Van de Pas (1967), Dieseghemlei 110, MortselMortselMortsel is a city and municipality close to the city of Antwerp located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the city of Mortsel proper. On January 1, 2006 Mortsel had a total population of 24,427 people. The total area is 7.78 km² which gives a population density of...
- Hoogbouwwijk, Sint-Maartensdal (1967), LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, prijs "Société Belge des Urbanistes et Architectes Modernistes" - Glaverbel building (1967), Chaussée de La Hulpe - Terhulpsesteenweg 166, Watermaal-Bosvoorde
- Library (1968–1976), Sint-Cordulaplein 13, SchotenSchotenSchoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1, 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the...
- Pavilion for sculpture (Middelheim Open Air Sculpture Museum) (1968–1971), Middelheimlaan, Antwerp
- House (1968–1969), Van Amstelstraat 01 88, Antwerp
- Corner house (1969–1970), Lindelei 219, HemiksemHemiksemHemiksem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Hemiksem proper. On January 1, 2010 Hemiksem had a total population of 10,166...
- House Schellekens (1970), Loenhoutseweg 34, HoogstratenHoogstratenHoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Hoogstraten proper and the towns of Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel,...
- Rectorate Vrije Universiteit BrusselVrije Universiteit BrusselThe Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
(1971–1976), Pleinlaan 2, Elsene - House Van Hoecke (1972–1978), Oudestraat 8, TemseTemseTemse is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Elversele, Steendorp, Temse proper and Tielrode. On January 1, 2006 Temse had a total population of 26,287...
- House Moyson (1973–1974), Veldenstraat 95, MechelenMechelenMechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
- Windmill (1973–1975), Sint-Annastrand, Antwerp
- Middelheim hospital (1975–1978), Lindendreef 1, Antwerp
- Villa (1977–1978), Kwikstaartlaan 2, Antwerp
- Cinema "Nova", Sint-Bernardsesteenweg 318, Antwerp
Further reading
- Strauven F., Renaat Braem, architect, Archief voor Moderne Architectuur, Brussels, 1983.
- 'Renaat Braem 1910-2001', ASP editions, 2010.
- Renaat Braem, Francis Strauven, 'Het lelijkste land ter wereld', ASP editions, 2010.
- www.braem2010.be