A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
In 1927, Huib Hoste, one of Belgium's leading architects from the modern era, designed a house with a diamond-cutting facility for the successful entrepreneur Jules Billiet.
The house was added to the protected monuments' list in 1995. In the beginning of 2002, I came across a blueprint in a private collection in Bruges and identified it as one of Hoste's original design drawings for this house. It included an impressive ensemble of abstract paintings that showed a total design for the walls and ceiling of the living room. Colour research proved that the paintings in the Billiet house were executed early on in the original design and still remain present, although they are covered by three layers of more recent paint coatings. The colour research conducted in the Billiet house in 2002 allowed a full-scale reconstruction of Hoste's design to be made. Incorporating original furniture elements, this reconstruction gives an impression of the original splendour of this abstract masterpiece. Analysis of colour stratification through microscopy confirmed the historical research and helped to reconstruct a coherent colour scheme and decor. Developing the restoration philosophy and preservation programme for the future of this rare modern interior and its furniture is an important challenge.
In 1927, Huib Hoste, one of Belgium's leading architects from the modern era, designed a house with a diamond-cutting facility for the successful entrepreneur Jules Billiet.
The house was added to the protected monuments' list in 1995. In the beginning of 2002, I came across a blueprint in a private collection in Bruges and identified it as one of Hoste's original design drawings for this house. It included an impressive ensemble of abstract paintings that showed a total design for the walls and ceiling of the living room. Colour research proved that the paintings in the Billiet house were executed early on in the original design and still remain present, although they are covered by three layers of more recent paint coatings. The colour research conducted in the Billiet house in 2002 allowed a full-scale reconstruction of Hoste's design to be made. Incorporating original furniture elements, this reconstruction gives an impression of the original splendour of this abstract masterpiece. Analysis of colour stratification through microscopy confirmed the historical research and helped to reconstruct a coherent colour scheme and decor. Developing the restoration philosophy and preservation programme for the future of this rare modern interior and its furniture is an important challenge.
The Billiet House, Bruges
Verdonck, Ann (author)
Journal of Architectural Conservation ; 13 ; 87-100
2007-01-01
14 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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