Integration of Contemporary Architecture in Bruges and Belgium (1970-1989)

Integration of Contemporary Architecture in Bruges and Belgium (1970-1989) Introduction The project aims to examine the segment of postmodern architecture in Bruges, realised between 1970 and 1989, which sought to reintegrate within the historic city centre. Set in motion through state funding and local actors like the Marcus Gerardsstichting, Bruges pioneered city renewal and integral conservation programs, placing built heritage at the core of its future urban development. Background Unlike several historical studies on canonical projects in Brussels, that reacted against the so-called “Brusselisation”, a nuanced study of postmodern architecture in the provincial city of Bruges is still lacking. The case studies selected for this project, designed by architects such as Groep Planning, Luc Dugardyn or Eugene Van Assche were often criticised of little architectural interest by journalists and architectural critics in the late 20th century. Adding, the way in which these projects responded to the urban mythology of “Bruges-la-Morte” remains largely unquestioned. By combining recent disciplinary insights of architectural history and heritage studies, including the digital tools of controversy mapping, this project proposes an important revision and contribution to the history of postmodern architecture, at a moment when key actors involved can still be interviewed and personal archives of architects have become available. In this way, the project contributes to the present-day challenges of urban regeneration, adaptive re-use and resilient cultural heritage. FEARS, October 13, 2025 St Peter’s Abbey, Ghent Constructionsite of the Biekorf library (1976), City Archive Bruges (MBR002005335) The Biekorf Library (1976), a first case 1961 Death and Life of great American Cities. The Failure of town planning by Jane Jacobs 1964 Venice Charter 1959 Colloquium behoud, restauratie & nieuwbouw 1971 Creation Bond Beter Leefmilieu 1972 Demolition Pruitt-Igoe 1973 A+ No.1 publication on Bruges 1975 European Architectural Heritage Year 1980 The presence of the past Venice Biennale 2000 UNESCO World Heritage recognition 2002 Bruges European Capital of Culture Marcus Gerardsstichting 1965 by Andries Van den Abeele Groep Planning 1966 Jan Tanghe, Willy Canfyn, Ignaas Deboutte, Jaques Petre Creation Heritage Department City of Bruges 1971 Call for a Structural Plan for Bruges 1972 Start Construction Zilverpand Quarter 1973 Sincfal Housing Quarter 1973 Biekorf Library 1976 Brugge. Structuurplan voor de binnenstad 1976 by Groep Planning Demolition Yeast Factory 1985 Competition World Sea Trade Center Zeebrugge 1988 1892 Bruges-La-Morte by Georges Rodenbach 1835 Commission Royale des Monuments 1912 Royal Council on Monuments and Sites 1904 Commission Stedenschoon 1931 Athens Charter 1948 Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (Inter)national... Bruges... Timeline Department of Architecture and Urban Planning FWO-funded research by Supervisors: prof. Maarten Liefooghe (UGent) prof. Wouter Van Acker (ULB) Joint-PhD researcher: Warre Onnockx (UGent-ULB) [email protected] Urban Conservation // Architectural History // Critical Heritage Studies // Postmodernism // Controversy Mapping // Actor-Network Theory // Adaptive Reuse // Integration Architecture // Built Heritage // Urban Regeneration // Heritage Policymaking // Liveable Cities // Urban Renewal // City Landscape Arch. Luc Vermeersch & Arch. Luc Dugardyn, Drawing of the construction site of the Biekorf Library (1976), City Archive Bruges (box 1122, 1126). A Revisionist History of Postmodernism in Bruges Through the Mapping of Positions and Debates Jaak A. Rau (Brugge), Constructionsite Zilverpand quarter (1974), City Archive Bruges (FO_C00132) Exploratory mapping of interesting integration architecture cases within the city of Bruges. Commissioned by the city administration at the beginning of the 70s, the Biekorf library was designed by local architects Luc Vermeersch and Luc Dugardyn, in strong dialogue with the city’s heritage department. It comprises a library, theatre, café, administration of the cultural centre and underground parking space. While its interior entails a brutalist character with concrete coffered ceilings and wooden detailing, the project’s main multi-bay structured façade at the Sint-Jakobsstreet, can be read as assertively postmodernist, echoing defensive medieval architecture. Recent architecture publications have interpreted the Biekorf complex as a flagship project for Bruges’ 1970s and 80s urban renewal campaign, along the lines of the city’s innovative 1972 Structure Plan (Groep Planning). The Biekorf complex foremost illustrates the contested nature and complexity of postmodern integration. Arch. Luc Vermeersch & Arch. Luc Dugardyn, Final facade drawing of the Biekorf Library (1976), City Archive Bruges (box 1122, 1126). Jaak A. Rau (Brugge), Neo-Renaissance front façade of the Leonhard-Tietz department store (± 1940), City Archive (2300115_19_11966) Arch. Luc Vermeersch & Arch. Luc Dugardyn, Facade drawings of the Biekorf Library (1976), City Archive Bruges (box 1122, 1126). A+. ‘Why A Structural Plan for the Historical Center of Bruges?’ 1973 (no.1). This 1973 A+ publication on the Structural Plan (Groep Planning) illustrates the importance of Bruges as a pilot city for heritage care and city renewal. Used as a policy tool and guidance document for future development, the Plan centralises the notion of livability as main goal. Tackleing the mere ‘juridical restrictive and formal approach’ of Belgium’s 1962 planning law, it considered land policy and spatial development, mapping for instance all different city functions as historical, agriculture, harbor, tourism, landscape, mobility. ‘However, it is the universally acclaimed 1972 structure plan for the historic city center of Bruges that best summarizes the dominant thinking on architecture and urban planning during this period.’ ‘The structure plan does not want to lay down a final plan, but to provide a development model in which growth and renewal do not occur at the expense of preservation and renovation. Like the formulation of the goals, the recommendations are richly vague and remain open to many interpretations.’ - G. Bekaert in Bekaert, Geert, and Christine Bastin, eds. Hedendaagse Architectuur in België. Lannoo, 1996. 100m