Antoine Pompe, forgotten pioneer of Belgian modernism

Antoine Pompe. Does the name ring a bell? No? That is not surprising, even though the Brussels-born architect should be considered one of the pioneers of modernism. He may not enjoy the fame of Belgian greats such as Louis-Herman de Koninck or Huib Hoste, but this self-made architect did have quite some influence and you can still admire many of his creations in and around Brussels.

The least you can say about Antoine Pompe is that, in many ways, he was a ‘special’ person. This not only because of the exceptionally high age he reached: the native of Brussels, who died in nearby Ukkel, lived to be 106 years old (1873-1980).

Initially, there was but little indication Pompe would leave his mark on Brussels architecture in particular, a field in which he never earned a degree. As the son of a Dutch goldsmith who had moved to Brussels, he initially attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, where he learned everything about drawing, engraving and woodcutting from the age of 13. In 1890 he went to the ‘Königliche Kunstgewerbeschule’ (Royal School of Arts and Craft) in Munich, where he perfected his skills in drawing and sculpture. Upon his return to Brussels in 1893, he first worked as a draftsman in a carpet factory and then moved on to a metal construction company.

So where is the link with architecture? We have to wait until 1899, when a fortunate coincidence leads him to work as a draftsman for Victor Horta, including the drawing of a design for the Congo pavilion for the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. After that first step into architecture, his future became even clearer when he also started working as a draftsman for the architect Georges Hobé until 1903 and then became assistant to Adhémar Lener in 1904, for whom he created his very first design, a shop front on Avenue Louise in Sint-Gillis, near Brussels. It would be the start of an architectural career in which he would integrate more and more elements of modernism into his designs. He mainly simplified elements from the then dominant art nouveau style and gave his buildings a more functional character.

We mentioned earlier that Antoine Pompe was ‘un cas spécial’, and he illustrates this with yet another specific characteristic. The man did not only specialise in modernism as an architect, but also in the design and manufacture of furniture after an internship with architects in Stuttgart. In addition, this furniture represented a true break with the art nouveau style of the early 20th century.

Architectural trail

Why are we drawing attention to this architect, who in recent decades has only been known to the ‘happy few’? The reason is that a book about the man has just been published, in which author Eric Hennaut pays special attention to Pompe's various creations. This work, available in Dutch, French and English, is the second volume of the Antoine Pompe ‘Architects' Journeys’ collection. This ‘architectural trail’ consists of a series of monographic guides to the work of architects who left their mark on the urban landscape of Brussels after the First World War. The collection focuses on the work of architects who are less well known to the general public, but who deserve all the more recognition for their intimate connection with the city.

Each volume highlights a unique journey, both literally and figuratively, revealing not only the built heritage, but also the underexposed and barely studied facets of the Belgian capital's urban history. This part of the series, dedicated to Antoine Pompe, brings the original realisations and ideas of this architect back under the spotlights and illustrates how he was a central and independent figure in the emergence of modern architecture in Belgium.

More information

‘Antoine Pompe. ‘Architects' Journeys’ is published by Mercatorfonds.

This 144-page softcover book was published in co-edition with Docomo and costs 35 euros. More information and ordering can be done via www.mercatorfonds.be/en