Within the heroic period of modernist architecture Belgian architect Louis Herman de Koninck (1896-1984) stands out as a restless researcher of modern building principles at the service of improving the standards of living. A former student of Victor Horta, De Koninck also was an important link between art nouveau and functionalist architecture since he realized his first projects at the intersection of these decisive stylistic periods: in 1919, just months after the end of WWI, De Koninck got involved with the reconstruction of the devastated parts of Belgium and infused his inventive reconstructions with the spirit of the art nouveau. But only some five years later the latter had vanished from his vocabulary and the unadorned surfaces of functionalism took over; with his own house in Uccle De Koninck set an exclamation mark both in formal purity and modern building principles: experimental in nature due to the highly industrialized components and materials used it was a solid box that over time proved to be the architect’s regular testing ground for new materials, fixtures and furniture he either wanted to apply in future projects or had designed himself.
A key publication that provides an in-depth overview of the architect’s work and life is „Louis Herman de Koninck - Architect of Modern Times“, published in 1998 by Archives d’Architecture Moderne Bruxelles, an institution De Koninck shaped as well. The book contains a number of essays by e.g. Francis Strauven, Marc Dubois, Jean-Louis Cohen and Arthur Rüegg that address a wide array of topics ranging from De Koninck’s position within European avant-garde architecture to his furniture and stained glass designs. From these a very differentiated portrait of the architect emerges that not only shows him as a principled modernist architect but also a creator of total works of art for which he designed everything down to color schemes and abstract artworks. Each essay is extensively illustrated with photos, plans and drawings, offering profound insights also into the the architect’s design process. A wonderful book and a big recommendation!
