Stoclet 1911 - Hypothesis

[2024] [Research Project] [Drawing] [Video] [Photography] [3D model]

Author(s): Jean Trottet, David Lo Buglio

Collaborating institution: ubran.brussels
Budget: 70.173 €

2020-2024

The scientific study of the Palais Stoclet is part of a collaboration between the Brussels-Capital Region (Urban.brussels) and the ULB. On the basis of an in-depth examination of archive sources documenting the building immediately after its construction, as well as a detailed architectural analysis of its remarkable spaces, the aim is to produce a 3D model (hypothesis of restitution) of the building in its original state between 1911 and 1918. While the building's exceptional character is attributable to the famous architect Josef Hoffmann, this total art project also features contributions from major artists of the Viennese Secession movement, such as the famous painter Gustav Klimt. The scientific study of the Palais Stoclet is part of a collaboration between the Brussels-Capital Region (Urban.brussels) and the ULB. On the basis of an in-depth examination of archive sources documenting the building immediately after its construction, as well as a detailed architectural analysis of its remarkable spaces, the aim is to produce a 3D model (hypothesis of restitution) of the building in its original state between 1911 and 1918. While the building's exceptional character is attributable to the famous architect Josef Hoffmann, this total art project also features contributions from major artists of the Viennese Secession movement, such as the famous painter Gustav Klimt.

A landmark of Belgian heritage, the Palais Stoclet has for some years now been on the very select list of Brussels buildings included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Despite this international recognition, the building remains little known to the general public. Through this research, the Brussels region hopes not only to make this knowledge accessible to as many people as possible, but also to build up a scientific information base on the spatial aspects of the building and its remarkable spaces. Behind this project of digital documentation of the work of the architect Josef Hoffmann, the research conducted by the AlICe laboratory of the Faculty of Architecture (ULB) aims to consolidate, around the three-dimensional representation of the building, a knowledge base that can be enriched over time.

More specifically, the digital reconstruction of the Palais in its 1911-1918 state is based on textual, photographic and graphic sources. These provide researchers with information on the nature of the materials, the morphology/geometry of the architectural elements and, where appropriate, their dimensions. The entire architectural part of the reconstruction hypothesis is therefore formulated by reading, interpreting and even extrapolating the information contained in these sources. By indexing and linking the sources with the digital model, the scientific approach aims to provide the most accurate possible account of the knowledge that researchers have about the Palais at a given point in its history. The aim is not only to produce a tool capable of expressing the relative degree of current knowledge about the state of the Palais when it was delivered between 1911 and 1918, but also to ensure the traceability of the intellectual approach for future research work.

The 3D restitution hypothesis of the Palais Stoclet and the researchers have been awarded the 2024 prize for scientific dissemination by the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). This prize recognises the researchers' commitment to disseminating knowledge, as well as several years of sometimes difficult research.

Research team:

Jean Trottet (Research & 3D modeling, ULB)

David Lo Buglio (Scientifique supervision & project lead, ULB)

Urban experts:

Thierry Wauters, Cecilia Paredes, Isabelle Leroy, Stéphane Demeter, Guy Conde-Reis

Press coverage and conferences :

RTBF