January 04, 2013

Justice Palace: three impressions


It seems like every time I drive by the ‘Palace of Justice’ it is raining. Its origin, history and story are interesting but until today, partly as a consequence of its enormous size,  controversy with regard to security issues remain. The building is indeed bigger than St Peter's Basilica in Rome!  I remember always hearing stories about the negative connotation of the word 'architect' and this is why:
Joseph Poelaert, the architect was appointed by the then minister of justice Tesch  to design the building in 1861. "The first stone was laid on October 31, 1866, and the building was inaugurated on October 15, 1883, after Poelaert's death. For the building of the Palace of Justice, a section of the Marollen neighbourhood was demolished, while most of the park belonging to the House of Mérode was also expropriated. Poelaert himself lived in the Marollen neighbourhood in a house only a few hundred metres from the building, a house adjoining his vast offices and workshops. It is thus unlikely he saw himself as ruining the neighbourhood. As a result of the forced relocation of so many people, the word architect became one of the most serious insults in Brussels. The Palace's location is on the Galgenberg hill, where in the Middle Ages convicted criminals were hanged.
 At the end of the Second World War, on the eve of the liberation of Brussels, the retreating Germans started a fire in the Palace of Justice in order to destroy it:  the cupola collapsed and part of the building was heavily damaged.
By 1947 most of the building was repaired and the cupola was rebuilt two and a half meters higher than the original. 
Starting in 2003, renovations have begun on the building. These renovations pertain to the repair and strengthening of the roof structure and the walls as well as putting a new layer on the gilded cupola". 
As, you can see, scaffolding is still in place today. 

34 comments:

  1. interesting history. and I love the pictures through the rainy window!

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    1. I consider this a compliment, Petra, especially coming from you, a great photographer

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  2. I love knowing new things about other counties so here you are a new follower

    Marina

    http://marinainblue.blogspot.com.es/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it has been ages since TiB got a new follower, therefore it is so very much appreciated,
      will have a look at your blog asap!
      welcome!

      Delete
  3. het weertje zat duidelijk niet mee. nou ja, dat hemelwater blijft maar op ons neerdalen, niks aan te doen! ;-)

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    1. ja, eigenlijk vind ik het wel iets hebben, foto's maken in de regen en zeker door beregende autoruiten.

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  4. Het lijkt wel of je in een storm terecht bent gekomen!

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    Replies
    1. zo erg was het nu ook weer niet, het effect lijkt dramatischer achter een autovenster

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  5. That first picture is so cool - - it looks like the moon is its ceiling :)

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  6. Hallo Anni
    Je laat weer iets interessants van Belgié zien.
    Greoten Bets

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  7. Great shots and such interesting history!! I do love it when you add it to your posts -- gives me an opportunity to learn so much that I didn't know! Terrific! Hope your new year is off to a great start! Enjoy the weekend, Anni!!

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    1. hum, I just HAVE to make it a point to add some history for you, Sylvia
      thank you for your frequent visits! much appreciated.

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  8. Pretty impressive building and very interesting history surrounding it. Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. you're welcome, thank you for your visits and comments! happy to hear from readers.

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  9. The history is interesting. There must have been something about the last decades of the 19th century. The Palais Garnier's construction saw the destruction of many blocks, a part of Baron Haussmann's vision.

    I will put this on my list to see...

    Bises,
    Genie

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    Replies
    1. I will make a not of that... that you will be visiting (soon)

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  10. Hallo Anni,
    Ik heb ooit het justietiepaleis zonder stellingen gezien, maar da's zéééér lang geleden...
    Ik wens je een pretttig weekend, Frans

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    1. ik herinner het mij zelfs niet zonder stellingen....
      prettig weekend.

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  11. Alweer op 't goede moment op 't knopje gedrukt, Anni ! Ik durf niet (achter 't stuur)...
    Lie(f)s.

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  12. Dat is een interessante geschiedenis over het justitiepaleis. Dat het woord architekt lang een scheldwoord was kan ik mij wel voorstellen.

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    Replies
    1. inderdaad, en hier en daar tot op de dag van vandaag !

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  13. een gebouw dat veel te groot is en geenszins aan moderne normen voldoet...

    het zal wel altijd in de steigers staan, maar wat moet men er mee doen...

    de koepel is heel mooi , maar verder is het een echte doolhof..

    prettig weekend

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  14. Interesting. Change is not easy. There are always people on both sides. I think him living in a space where others were evicted caused even more outrage!

    I need to send the sun your way!...Janey

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    1. indeed Janey
      and as regards the sun, please do ! more than welcome

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  15. I have heard two things recently: it was Hitler's favorite building...and the scaffolding now needs its own scaffolding so it can be taken down because it's been the so long! Histoires Belges :)

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  16. Ciao Anni, scusa la lunga assenza. Sbaglio o hai inserito un traduttore? Non dirmi che il Palazzo di Giustizia di Bruxelles è peggio che la Chiesa di San Marco che è sempre in restauro. Quando si finisce da una parte si comincia dall'altra.
    Il post è superbo. Un grande augurio di buon anno.

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    1. si Elio, anche per me era una lunga assenza; dovrei correggere abbastanza presto
      tanti auguri anche a te e la tua famiglia!

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  17. I remember the marche aux puse le weekend.A little bit triste place.

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  18. the pictures are not coming through. Will have to come back.

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