Abstract
The adaptive reuse of churches has recently become an important heritage challenge. Reuse theories, design projects, and realizations proliferate, but are based on incomplete heritage value assessments.In this former Province of Brabant, the churches from the second half of the 19th-century are numerous and answered the need for places of worship of the increasing population of the freshly-independent Belgian State. Louis Spaak, as a Provincial Architect of Brabant from 1830 to 1867 dealt with the renovation, enlargement, reconstruction or construction of about 25 churches. This master thesis focusses on the 12 churches whose design and construction supervision are attributed to Louis Spaak and aims to participate in the transmission of this built heritage.
Literature and archive studies are complemented with comprehensive onsite measurements and investigations to contextualize specific cases in national and international perspectives. This master thesis highlights first the life of Louis Spaak in the context of the 19th- century, his family, education and career. Then preliminary elements about church architecture, the styles, the Tradition and the industrial revolution are introduced. Finally, the churches designed are analysed through their plans, facades and structure. This part is the core of this master's thesis and the part where the design patterns are presented and discussed.
This work has been motivated by the challenge of renovation and conservation of built heritage in the 21th century in Europe. This master thesis benefits to a broader research led by its supervisors about the hidden innovations in church roofs in Belgium (1830s-1940s) and contributes to the understanding of the meaning of religious architecture by its users, visitors and builders.
| Date of Award | Jul 2019 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Ine Wouters (Promotor), Romain Wibaut (Advisor), Ann Verdonck (Jury) & Bernard Espion (Jury) |