BELGIUM - BRUSSELS - PALAIS DE JUSTICE - Court of Cassation (80)
The Courthouse of Brussels - Belgium
Everything is done to impress, both inside and out. It's a symbolic place with a long history, built on the (rather aptly named) “Mont des Potences”, meaning Gallows Hill, where condemned men were executed in the Middle Ages. Legend has it that in the 16th century, the famous doctor Vesalius went there at night to steal corpses so that he could study the human body…
A little history
In March 1860 (under Leopold I), the Belgian government organized an international competition for the construction of a new courthouse in Brussels. The jury did not select any of the projects presented and the project was instead entrusted to the architect of the City of Brussels (who was on the jury!).
Joseph Poelaert's project was colossal: to synthesize the history of humanity in the architecture of a single building.
The construction, which finally began in October 1866, took 17 years. It led to the sacrificing of part of the Marolles, the working-class district in the lower part of the city, through expropriations at derisory prices, evictions and demolitions. The inauguration (under Leopold II) was held on 15 October 1883, without the architect of this colossus having seen his work completed. Exhausted and driven mad, he died four years before the work was completed.
The “Skieven architek” and “The Great Inkwell”…
The monument left no one indifferent. It was adored by some and mocked by others. Poelaert was granted tremendous artistic and financial freedom throughout the project, which led to popular, political and cultural discontent. A number of charming expressions were coined, such as 'Rotten' and 'Skieven architek' (twisted architect). Victor Horta described the building as "... a crushing mass crowned by a cheese bell". Victor Hugo christened it "The Great Inkwell".
The biggest Palace of Justice in the world…
Built in an eclectic style of Greco-Roman inspiration and larger than Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, it is (still to this day) the largest palace of justice in the world:
* a ground surface of 26,006 m2. The total net area reaches +/- 81.000 m²
* a dome that reaches a height of 100 meters and weighs 24,000 tons
* a colossal vestibule (the « salle des pas perdus »)
* over 250 rooms, including 27 impressive courtrooms…
The plan is organized around the central void of the salle des pas perdus with its height of one hundred meters under the central dome, space for the distribution of circulations organized to give access to the audience rooms on the ground floor and upper floors according to a provision which was intended to be rational according to the requirements of the time.
BELGIUM - BRUSSELS - PALAIS DE JUSTICE - Court of Cassation (80)
The Courthouse of Brussels - Belgium
Everything is done to impress, both inside and out. It's a symbolic place with a long history, built on the (rather aptly named) “Mont des Potences”, meaning Gallows Hill, where condemned men were executed in the Middle Ages. Legend has it that in the 16th century, the famous doctor Vesalius went there at night to steal corpses so that he could study the human body…
A little history
In March 1860 (under Leopold I), the Belgian government organized an international competition for the construction of a new courthouse in Brussels. The jury did not select any of the projects presented and the project was instead entrusted to the architect of the City of Brussels (who was on the jury!).
Joseph Poelaert's project was colossal: to synthesize the history of humanity in the architecture of a single building.
The construction, which finally began in October 1866, took 17 years. It led to the sacrificing of part of the Marolles, the working-class district in the lower part of the city, through expropriations at derisory prices, evictions and demolitions. The inauguration (under Leopold II) was held on 15 October 1883, without the architect of this colossus having seen his work completed. Exhausted and driven mad, he died four years before the work was completed.
The “Skieven architek” and “The Great Inkwell”…
The monument left no one indifferent. It was adored by some and mocked by others. Poelaert was granted tremendous artistic and financial freedom throughout the project, which led to popular, political and cultural discontent. A number of charming expressions were coined, such as 'Rotten' and 'Skieven architek' (twisted architect). Victor Horta described the building as "... a crushing mass crowned by a cheese bell". Victor Hugo christened it "The Great Inkwell".
The biggest Palace of Justice in the world…
Built in an eclectic style of Greco-Roman inspiration and larger than Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, it is (still to this day) the largest palace of justice in the world:
* a ground surface of 26,006 m2. The total net area reaches +/- 81.000 m²
* a dome that reaches a height of 100 meters and weighs 24,000 tons
* a colossal vestibule (the « salle des pas perdus »)
* over 250 rooms, including 27 impressive courtrooms…
The plan is organized around the central void of the salle des pas perdus with its height of one hundred meters under the central dome, space for the distribution of circulations organized to give access to the audience rooms on the ground floor and upper floors according to a provision which was intended to be rational according to the requirements of the time.