Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40)

Romain Wibaut; Thomas Coomans; Ine Wouters

Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40)

Romain Wibaut, Thomas Coomans, Ine Wouters

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper

1 Citation (Scopus)

173 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the 1920s, modernist and Art Deco architects experimented enthusiastically with new materials, designs and ornaments. In the Brussels Capital Region several modernist churches were built entirely in reinforced concrete and decorated with abstract forms. In the following decade, however, because of the economic crisis and the stagnation of the construction sector, traditional design and styles took over again. New technologies and reinforced concrete were still used, but they were hidden. This paper focuses on the less studied churches from the late 1930s, which turned their back to modernism and combined Romanesque forms and regional characters. Based on fieldwork, archive and literature study, this paper contributes to understanding the technical use and esthetical context of reinforced concrete in church construction in the late inter-war period.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018
Editors	Ine Wouters, Stephanie Van de Voorde, Inge Bertels, Bernard Espion, Krista De Jonge, Denis Zastavni
Place of Publication	Leiden
Publisher	CRC Press
Pages	1375-1382
Number of pages	8
Volume	2
ISBN (Electronic)	978-0-429-50620-8
ISBN (Print)	978-1-138-58414-3
Publication status	Published - 2018
Event	6th International Congress on Construction history - Palais des Académies, Brussels, Belgium Duration: 9 Jul 2018 → 13 Jul 2018 http://6ICCH.org

Publication series

Name	Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories
Volume	2

Conference

Conference	6th International Congress on Construction history
Abbreviated title	6ICCH
Country/Territory	Belgium
City	Brussels
Period	9/07/18 → 13/07/18
Internet address	http://6ICCH.org

Keywords

20th century
Brussels (Belgium)
Church
Reinforced Concrete
Roof Construction

Access to Document

6ICCH_2018_Wibaut eaAccepted author manuscript, 12 MBLicence: GNU LGPL

Cite this

Wibaut, R., Coomans, T., & Wouters, I. (2018). Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40). In I. Wouters, S. Van de Voorde, I. Bertels, B. Espion, K. De Jonge, & D. Zastavni (Eds.), Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018 (Vol. 2, pp. 1375-1382). (Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories; Vol. 2). CRC Press.

Wibaut, Romain ; Coomans, Thomas ; Wouters, Ine. / Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40). Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018. editor / Ine Wouters ; Stephanie Van de Voorde ; Inge Bertels ; Bernard Espion ; Krista De Jonge ; Denis Zastavni. Vol. 2 Leiden : CRC Press, 2018. pp. 1375-1382 (Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories).

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abstract = "In the 1920s, modernist and Art Deco architects experimented enthusiastically with new materials, designs and ornaments. In the Brussels Capital Region several modernist churches were built entirely in reinforced concrete and decorated with abstract forms. In the following decade, however, because of the economic crisis and the stagnation of the construction sector, traditional design and styles took over again. New technologies and reinforced concrete were still used, but they were hidden. This paper focuses on the less studied churches from the late 1930s, which turned their back to modernism and combined Romanesque forms and regional characters. Based on fieldwork, archive and literature study, this paper contributes to understanding the technical use and esthetical context of reinforced concrete in church construction in the late inter-war period.",

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Wibaut, R, Coomans, T & Wouters, I 2018, Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40). in I Wouters, S Van de Voorde, I Bertels, B Espion, K De Jonge & D Zastavni (eds), Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018. vol. 2, Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories, vol. 2, CRC Press, Leiden, pp. 1375-1382, 6th International Congress on Construction history, Brussels, Belgium, 9/07/18.

Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40). / Wibaut, Romain; Coomans, Thomas; Wouters, Ine.
Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018. ed. / Ine Wouters; Stephanie Van de Voorde; Inge Bertels; Bernard Espion; Krista De Jonge; Denis Zastavni. Vol. 2 Leiden: CRC Press, 2018. p. 1375-1382 (Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories; Vol. 2).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper

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AU - Wibaut, Romain

AU - Coomans, Thomas

AU - Wouters, Ine

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - In the 1920s, modernist and Art Deco architects experimented enthusiastically with new materials, designs and ornaments. In the Brussels Capital Region several modernist churches were built entirely in reinforced concrete and decorated with abstract forms. In the following decade, however, because of the economic crisis and the stagnation of the construction sector, traditional design and styles took over again. New technologies and reinforced concrete were still used, but they were hidden. This paper focuses on the less studied churches from the late 1930s, which turned their back to modernism and combined Romanesque forms and regional characters. Based on fieldwork, archive and literature study, this paper contributes to understanding the technical use and esthetical context of reinforced concrete in church construction in the late inter-war period.

AB - In the 1920s, modernist and Art Deco architects experimented enthusiastically with new materials, designs and ornaments. In the Brussels Capital Region several modernist churches were built entirely in reinforced concrete and decorated with abstract forms. In the following decade, however, because of the economic crisis and the stagnation of the construction sector, traditional design and styles took over again. New technologies and reinforced concrete were still used, but they were hidden. This paper focuses on the less studied churches from the late 1930s, which turned their back to modernism and combined Romanesque forms and regional characters. Based on fieldwork, archive and literature study, this paper contributes to understanding the technical use and esthetical context of reinforced concrete in church construction in the late inter-war period.

KW - 20th century

KW - Brussels (Belgium)

KW - Church

KW - Reinforced Concrete

KW - Roof Construction

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A2 - Wouters, Ine

A2 - Van de Voorde, Stephanie

A2 - Bertels, Inge

A2 - Espion, Bernard

A2 - De Jonge, Krista

A2 - Zastavni, Denis

PB - CRC Press

CY - Leiden

T2 - 6th International Congress on Construction history

Y2 - 9 July 2018 through 13 July 2018

ER -

Wibaut R, Coomans T, Wouters I. Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40). In Wouters I, Van de Voorde S, Bertels I, Espion B, De Jonge K, Zastavni D, editors, Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Construction History (6ICCH), Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 July 2018. Vol. 2. Leiden: CRC Press. 2018. p. 1375-1382. (Building Knowledge, Constructing Histories).

Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40)

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

BRGEOZ344: Documentatie van de kerkkappen in het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (1830-1930)

FWOAL874: Hidden Innovation. Building church roofs in Belgium (1830s-1930s): construction technologies, architectural-historical contextualization, and present heritage challenges in international perspective.

SRP23: SRP (Groeiers): Construction history

Cite this

Hidden modernity: reinforced concrete trusses in Brussels parish churches (1935-40)

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

BRGEOZ344: Documentatie van de kerkkappen in het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (1830-1930)

FWOAL874: Hidden Innovation. Building church roofs in Belgium (1830s-1930s): construction technologies, architectural-historical contextualization, and present heritage challenges in international perspective.

SRP23: SRP (Groeiers): Construction history

Cite this