Charles Van Rysselberghe

Charles van Rysselberghe (25 July 1850 – 30 April 1920) was a Belgian architect.

Biography Carolus Julianus van Rysselberghe was born in Meerle, Hoogstraten, on 25 July 1850. He was trained at the Academy of Ghent, studying there between 1863 and 1875. After his education at the academy, he was honored with the Prize of the City of Ghent. He built many buildings in Ghent, including twenty schools. Among the latter are the Andries School on Triestlaan (1881–1883) and the Laurentius Institute on Onderstraat (1901), both in Flemish Neo-Renaissance style.

His best known work, however, is the Museum of Fine Arts, built between 1898 and 1904 and extended in 1912.

Van Rysselberghe also taught architecture at the Ghent academy. In 1905, he was one of the founders of the Ghent Workers Housing Company. It was one of the first social housing associations in Belgium, and for it he completed five projects. Van Rysselberghe had limited resources for this work, but still managed a polychrome use of materials on a lively design.

Selected works 1880–1881: Intermediate section of Ghent City Hall, built along the Poeljemarkt between the Aldermen's House of Gedele and the Armenkamer 1887–1888: City school on Kaprijkestraat in Ghent 1891: Urban boy school on Drongensesteenweg in Ghent 1891: City school on Désiré Van Monckhovenstraat in Ghent 1893: City school on Molenaarsstraat in Ghent 1898: Urban primary school for girls on Acaciastraat in Ghent 1898–1904: Museum of Fine Arts of Ghent 1901–02: Fire station on Londenstraat in Ghent 1904: City school on Frans van Ryhovelaan/Lavendelstraat in Ghent 1911–1912: Social housing on Bellefleurstraat in Ghent 1912–1913: Social housing on Biezenstuk/Rooigemlaan in Ghent 1914: Urban school for girls on Lammensstraat in Ghent