La leçon du Palais de Justice

La leçon du Palais de Justice – In an unpublished text, Victor Horta champions the Palais de Justice and its architect Joseph Poelaert. Dismayed by the changes made to the building since its inauguration in 1883, which he felt in no way respected Poelaert’s original architectural design, he took up the building’s defense. He was a member of the commission responsible for monitoring the work, but was never heard of and resigned. He is now free to criticize those he considers to be iconoclasts and philistines who have understood nothing of Poelaert’s genius, and he’s not about to deprive himself of this opportunity.

This text, found in the archives of the Musée Horta, has now been published in its entirety, accompanied by comments designed to make it easier to understand. It is also framed by a series of reflections, the fruit of in-depth research, which renew our understanding of the building. We offer a detailed analysis of the architecture of the original building and its many transformations, highlighting the similarities between the Palais de Justice and Horta’s work, and looking back at the international influence of the building, clones of which can still be found today in South America. In addition, a contemporary photographic commission captures traces of the past and compares them with the succession of interventions made on the building.

Finally, a programmatic reflection on the future of the judicial function in the Palais de Justice and an orientation towards recognition of its outstanding universal value are intended to contribute to the debate on the future of the building in the context of its forthcoming renovation.