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BRUYN, Willem de - b. 1649 Brussel, d. 1719 Brussel - WGA

BRUYN, Willem de

(b. 1649 Brussel, d. 1719 Brussel)

Willem (Guillaume) de Bruyn, Flemish architect. He was one of the key figures in the reconstruction of the Grand Place of Brussels after the devastating bombing of 1695. He had the same name as his father, who had been master builder in Brabant until his death in 1669. Willem went to Italy as part of his training. After the death of his father, Willem was appointed to his duties.

He gave up this mandate when he became a city architect in 1685, a position he would hold for more than 34 years. The French bombardment of 1695 provided for the city an unprecedented reconstruction task. De Bruyn’s plan for the reconstruction of the Grote Markt was approved by the city magistrates on 7 February 1696. De Bruyn also planned a new straight street (Beierenstraat) and the related square.

On the Grote Markt the designs of the building plans for the Maison des Ducs de Brabant, as well as the guild houses de l’Arbre d’Or, Chaloupe d’Or, and de l’Ange, are attributed to him. His work is distinguished by a monumentality of scale, and features of both Flemish Baroque and Neoclassical styles are evident.

De Bruyn remained in office until his death in 1719.

Exterior view
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Exterior view

The architect Willem de Bruyn’s name is primarily linked to the rebuilding of the demolished guildhalls in the Grote Markt (Grand Place) in Brussels. The most remarkable feature of this unique ensemble is that the traditional vertical fa�ade architecture is combined with a contemporary Late Baroque arsenal of forms which, moreover, was not restricted to the otherwise opulent sculptural finish. The actual structure of the buildings was also more dynamically conceived with divisions curving in and out and it acquired a monumental emphasis by means of the use of the colossal order. Together with the mansard roofs and the wide classicist triangular and segmental pediments this last element points quite clearly to the Louis XIV style.

The most impressive part of the architectural ensemble on the Grand Place is formed by what is called the House of the Dukes of Brabant on the east side of the square. This is actually made up of six different houses which are joined together by a unifying articulation of the fa�ade into a monumental whole. In this complex the influence of the Louis XIV style is most noticeable, particularly in the application of the colossal order, the classicist sculpture subordinated to the austere architectural forms, and the great mansard roof. On the other hand, the traditional Netherlandish window structure is still recognizable in the extensively glazed appearance of the fa�ade.

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General view
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General view

The architect Willem de Bruyn’s name is primarily linked to the rebuilding of the demolished guildhalls in the Grote Markt (Grand Place) in Brussels. The most remarkable feature of this unique ensemble is that the traditional vertical fa�ade architecture is combined with a contemporary Late Baroque arsenal of forms which, moreover, was not restricted to the otherwise opulent sculptural finish. The actual structure of the buildings was also more dynamically conceived with divisions curving in and out and it acquired a monumental emphasis by means of the use of the colossal order. Together with the mansard roofs and the wide classicist triangular and segmental pediments this last element points quite clearly to the Louis XIV style.

The photo shows guild houses on the Grote Markt.

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House of the Dukes of Brabant
House of the Dukes of Brabant by

House of the Dukes of Brabant

The drawing depicting the House of the Dukes of Brabant on the Grand Place in Brussels was executed by F. J. De Rons in 1737.

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