Zurenborg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zurenborg is an area in south-east Antwerp largely developed between 1894 and 1906 that features a high concentration of townhouses in Art Nouveau and other fin-de-siècle styles.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Houses in Zurenborg
[edit] Location
Art Nouveau houses are interspersed with neoclassical mansions and other eclectic architectural styles throughout Zurenborg, which is geographically split between Antwerp itself and the district of Berchem. The southern part, which falls within Berchem and is centred along Cogels-Osylei (or Cogels-Osy Lei), Transvaalstraat, and Waterloostraat, has the highest number of townhouses. To the north, in the Antwerp section, many further examples were built along the streets surrounding Dagraadplaats.[1]
[edit] Styles
The development of Zurenborg coincided with the peak of Art Nouveau popularity, and that movement had the greatest impact on the stylistic language of the area.[1] However, many other styles—mostly "revival styles"—that were popular at the time are also represented. These include Gothic Revival, Neo-Renaissance, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and the "cottage style" that coincided with British Tudorbethan architecture.
[edit] Themes
The houses were often named and decorated with accompanying themes.[1] The influence of organic and natural sources is particularly evident in the themes and names of the Art Nouveau homes: The Sunflower, The Rose, The Tulip, etc. Houses also referenced local history or the names of the streets upon which they stand. The "Lion of Flanders" prominently adorns Cogels-Osylei 2–4, while across the street an entire complex is devoted to Charlemagne. On Waterloostraat ("Waterloo Street") houses recall the eponymous battle of the street's name. One, Waterloostraat 30, is adorned with a silhouette of Napoleon in his characteristic headgear, while another is decorated with glazed ceramic panels depicting scenes from that battle.
[edit] Co-ordination of houses
Groups of individual houses were sometimes combined to form a general theme and are intended to be experienced as co-ordinated designs rather than as individual units.[1] Such an ensemble are the five adjoining houses collectively known as De Tijd (Time) on Waterloostraat. Each one, built in brick and in constrasting colours, is named for—and thematically represents—a time of the day: Ochtend (Morning), Dag (Day), Avond (Evening) and Nacht (Night). Similarly, some of the structures "speak" to one another. Examples of such a grouping are on the four corners of the Waterloostraat and Generaal Merlenstraat intersection. There, houses depicting the four seasons face one another: Lente (Spring), Zomer (Summer), Herfst (Autumn) and Winter.
[edit] Architects
Several architects worked in the neighbourhood. Among them was Joseph Bascourt, who designed 25 of the houses,[2] Jules Hofman, and Frans Smet-Verhas.[1]
[edit] Gallery
|
"Boreas" house, Transvaalstraat 56. Architect: Joseph Bascourt |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Alex Elaut, Zurenborg Walk, Antwerp: Toerisme Antwerpen, [n.d.].
- ^ Anne van Loo, "Bascourt, Joseph," Grove Art Online, Oxford University Press. [accessed 11 April 2008]

