SPECIAL EDITION 2018 NIO M O UN IM D R T IA A L • P • W L THE RESTORATION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL O A I R D L D N H O E M R I E TA IN G O E • PATRIM DECORATIVE ENVIRONMENT United Nations La Grand-Place, Brussels Educational, Scientific and inscribed on the World Cultural Organization Heritage List in 1998 The facades of the Grand Place Section of a watercolour drawing of the north-western side of the Grand Place sketched by F.-J. Derons in 1737, depicting, from left to right, the houses known as: La Louve/De Wolvin, Le Sac/Den Sack, La Brouette/Den Cruywagen and Le Roi d’Espagne/ Den Coninck van Spaignien. Drawing acquired by the City in 1853 and used as the main source for the restoration of the façades in the 19th century (© AVB). PRELUDE TO THE RESTORATION WORK PRINCIPLES OF INTERVENTION L’Âne/Den Ezel. Scaffold with decorative canvas showing a life-size photograph of the façade (© HHU, 2003). IN 1998, CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS HERITAGE AND ITS RAPID DETERIORATION, THE CITY OF BRUSSELS TASKED ITS HISTORICAL HERITAGE UNIT WITH THE JOB OF CARRYING OUT A HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF THE HOUSES ON THE SQUARE. THE AIM WAS TO PRESENT AN OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THEIR STATE OF REPAIR. Thanks to archival records dating from the mid-19th century, details of all the work carried out, both on the interiors and the façades, were recorded and noted on summary documents, with floor plans and elevations. As the City of Brussels has been fication of the materials used, the In addition, the scaffolding was responsible for maintaining the pathologies affecting them and pre- made almost invisible due to being façades on the Grand Place accord- vious work and treatments that had covered in tarpaulins printed ing to an agreement made with the been applied in the past. This helped with life-size colour photos of the buildings’ owners in the late 19th with determining the techniques to façades. Tourists were not therefore century, a schedule of condition was be used for the upcoming project, overly inconvenienced by the work. initiated in the year 2000. This report which was to serve as an example The scaffolding was arranged in a corresponds to a preliminary diag- and a test case for the restoration portico, thereby maintaining access nostic phase, allowing for an initial of the other façades on the Grand to the commercial ground floor visual identification of the types of Place. This three-year preliminary of the buildings being renovated. materials used in the construction phase was completed in 2004. Moreover, explanatory tarpau- THE RESTORATION EXCEPTIONALTHE AN OF DECORATIVE ENVIRONMENT of the façades, their state of deg- lins were attached to the hoarding | radation and any damage, such as Thanks to the experience acquired around the sites, providing informa- cracks, chipped stones or the corro- during this initial project, subse- tion on the history of the façades and sion of metal components, the dete- quent renovations were extended their restorations as well as techni- rioration of joints, etc. to cover each entire block of build- cal and practical information about ings. This way of working allowed the work in progress. As a result of this report, an initial for better project organisation, restoration project was planned for thereby saving time and money, and 2018 – SPECIAL EDITION the façade of L’Â n e /D e n E zel (Grand offered an improved approach to Place No 39), owned by the City. A aesthetics and heritage preserva- series of scientific and technical tion. Specifically, the work of a sin- analyses was undertaken in 2001 gle craftsperson or team with an while preparing the planned resto- overall vision of the project helped to ration. These analyses led, among ensure consistency when renovating other things, to the precise identi- the same group of façades. BRUSSELS HERITAGE 015 INITIAL 19TH CENTURY RESTORATIONS Restoration project of the façade of Le Cygne/De Swane (© AVB, undated). DURING THE 1695 BOMBARDMENT OF BRUSSELS ORDERED BY LOUIS XIV, MOST OF THE HOUSES ON THE GRAND PLACE WERE DESTROYED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE FAÇADES AND PARTY WALLS, AS WELL AS FOUNDATIONS OR VAULTED CELLARS. However, it did not take long to reconstruct the devastated buildings. At the end of the 19th century, the ment, the owners were prevented veys encouraged the restorers to condition of the houses testified to from carrying out any work on the limit their work to strengthening the 200 years of tumultuous history. façade of their buildings without the best-preserved areas of the façades Most of the façades, ransacked by express written permission of the and rebuilding the most damaged the sans-culottes as they passed College of Mayor and Aldermen. The sections (mainly the gables) as well through1 in 1793, had lost their dec- City, in turn, undertook to maintain as those that had been irreversi- orative elements and inscriptions. the properties. bly modified, such as commercial Certain major changes, such as the ground floors. The restoration of removal of gables and the modifi- This agreement pre-dated the the façade of Le Heaume/Den Helm cation of floor heights, disrupted projects that were carried out (1916-1923) is just one example of a the architectural coherence of the between 1879 and 1923. The aim compromise between the recreation square. was to restore the early 18th century of certain sections and the conser- appearance of the façades, which vation of others. By 1850, the façades were in an was considered to be the original. alarming state of repair. Elements Several different approaches had Reconstruction work on the façades that were at risk of falling had been been recommended, ranging from was based on the same principles – crudely repaired and, in certain relatively intrusive restoration work the restoration of elements in keep- cases, simply removed. The City to the complete reconstruction of ing with their appearance in the authorities drew the owners’ atten- the façades. 18th century, based on drawings by tion to the poor maintenance of their F.-J. Derons3 - with the result that properties and the need to restore For certain buildings, only the res- all the elements were completely them. However, only a handful of toration of decorative elements and replaced. The projects carried out owners ended up repainting the masonry repair work had been car- simultaneously in 1897 on Le Cerf/ façade of their building or renovat- ried out. The work on La Chaloupe De Heert, Joseph et Anne/Joseph THE RESTORATION EXCEPTIONALTHE AN OF DECORATIVE ENVIRONMENT ing the decorative elements. d’Or/De Gulden Boot, which started in en Anna, L’Ange/Den Engel and | 1878, is a good example of this type of Aux Armes de Brabant/De Wapens Under the mandate of the Mayor, operation. The results of preliminary van Brabant illustrate this radical Charles Buls2, the City initiated a surveys had determined that there method of the demolition and recon- campaign for a systematic resto- were no structural problems with the struction of façades. The reasons ration of the façades on the Grand façade. The architect therefore con- for choosing this method are not Place, made possible thanks to the fined his work to strengthening the clear, as the preliminary examina- conclusion of an agreement with stonework, through the application tions did not seem to suggest that 2018 – SPECIAL EDITION the owners of these properties. of a cement render, and replacing the such an approach was required. The The façades of the houses were sculpted decorative elements using complete reconstruction of these now encumbered by an easement moulds made from casts created in façades can perhaps be explained of light and view guaranteeing an advance. by the desire to streamline opera- unobstructed view of the town hall tions and complete the work in as in order to protect the general lay- A different type of intervention was little time as possible, or the wish out of the square. Under this agree- used in other cases. Detailed sur- to standardise the materials that BRUSSELS HERITAGE 017 IINNITIAL 1919TTHH CENTURY CENTURY RESTORAT RESTORATIONSIONS had become overly heterogeneous incorporated into the stone facing, demolition and reconstruction of over the course of many years and are not generally visible, except in Le Roi d’Espagne/Den Coninck van countless interventions. No 23, L’Ange/Den Engel, where one Spaignien, as part of a restoration of the corner pieces used to support operation. These two distinct pro- This method of working - completely the structure supporting the floors jects were different in terms of the demolishing the façades while pre- can still be seen at the mezzanine techniques applied but similar with serving the interiors - involved rel- level. regard to the materials chosen. atively complex techniques. To ena- ble this type of work to be carried This method of working on the out, it was necessary to install scaf- façades, guaranteeing the preser- folding on both sides of the façade vation of the interiors, was princi- at the same time and to construct a pally dictated by the need to enable NOTES wooden partition inside the building the property to remain inhabited. 1. Sans-culottes – name by which the at a distance of around 0.75 m from It should not be seen as the result most fervent republicans referred the existing façade. The window and of any concern for preserving the to themselves during the French door frames had been removed and archaeological value of the interiors. Revolution replaced in these partitions. At each 2.