Modernist bank building in Broekstraat/Rue du Marais Brussels, Belgium
This time a bank building from Brussels, Belgium. It is one of the best examples of modernist architecture and one of the best known in the area (if you ask design related locals to recommend nice modernist building this will be the one).
Prefabricated concrete pieces mounted together with the help of metal pieces and tension cables, make an intricate façade. The building looks contemporary enough, some designers nowadays copy the style, however the level of detailing and quality of execution is difficult to match. I can hardly imagine what building, built in recent years, will be looking at least ok, 50 years down the road.
Very sculptural corner detail:
The building is in a very good condition, my guess is that concrete façade must have been cleaned-up recently.
View from the street, Brussels as a permanent construction site (changes for the better, thought) :
However and sadly my on-line search could not retrieve any information about the building nor who designed it. It would be great if anyone from the readers could tell me, if they happen to possess such information.
Reblogged this on Simon Sundaraj-Keun.
That’s very interesting. especially for me, because we have a very, (very) similar building (also a large bank building) here in Dublin. The resemblance as i say, of those very “sculptural” forms in concrete, (pre-fabricated probably although `i wouldn’t have known or guessed this until I read your piece) is pretty clear. Anyway, the two buildings are so similar in many ways, that I now wonder if it’s the same architect? If I find out I’ll certainly try to let you know. best regards- Arran.
Very interesting to know that similar building exist elsewhere. It could be the same architect, but could be architectural fashion of the specific period. If you ever find out who was the architect of the building in Dublin please let me know, or maybe you could let me know the location where the building is – I would be very grateful.
Thanks again, Arran!
hi, no problem. I’ve been wracking my brains here, trying to remember where the dam building is! It’s certainly reminiscent of the US embassy here in Dublin. (link to picture below) But i have a feeling there may be another, even more similar one here, just can’t recall where. Would you believe I’ve just stuck a picture on the Facebook page of an architect friend of mine. If I hear back from him, or remember myself, I’ll drop you another line. In the meanwhile, here’s the reference, or the link, google images page for US embassy here… ciao for now. Arran.
http://www.google.ie/search?q=american+embassy+dublin&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=swxTUfOjMcOyhAfh6IHQAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1903&bih=960
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