Henri Van Dievoet

Henri van Dievoet (, 19 January 1869 – 24 April 1931) was a Belgian architect.

Biography

Early life Van Dievoet was born into an old family of Brussels descended from the Sweerts lineage, one of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels, which had already shone in the fine arts at the time of Louis XIV. His great-granduncles were the goldsmith Philippe Van Dievoet and the sculptor Peter Van Dievoet, one of the creators of the Grand-Place of Brussels. Joseph Poelaert was his great-uncle.

Education Henri Van Dievoet enrolled at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts on 1 August 1884 and took courses there until 1892. He was a brilliant student and distinguished himself by received numerous awards: the geometry award, the perspective award, the construction award, the archaeology award, the art history award, the hygiene award, the jurisprudence award, and the architecture history award.

He also received a formation by architect Ernest Acker, who would eventually be a witness at his wedding.

His architectural work His first house (1889) was the house and artist's studio built for stockbroker Félix Rodberg, 30 rue Washington in Ixelles.

In 1890, he participated in the Salon d' Architecture de l'Exposition des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles alongside his friend Victor Horta and Maurice Van Ysendijck.

In 1894, he won the Grand Prix d'architecture of the City of Brussels for his project "House of Parliament for a constitutional country".

He also won the Prix de Rome.

In 1901, he conceived a series of buildings with apartments on rue Campenhout in Brussels. Other works include a house and artist's studio built for stockbroker Félix Rodberg in rue Washington (1889); the Evangelical Church in Haine Saint Paul Jolimont (1890); four houses on the rue General Patton (1895); the Royal Military Academy

His son, Paul Van Dievoet (born Brussels, 23 August 1896, died Schaerbeek 7 September 1947), was architect for the municipality of Schaerbeek, but also produced private work.

His daughter, Germaine Van Dievoet (born Brussels 26 September 1899, died 30 October 1990 at Uccle), was a championship swimmer who took part in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.

Henri Van Dievoet was the brother of the famous decorator and modern-style sgraffitist Gabriel Van Dievoet (1875–1934), whose works still decorate many frontages of Brussels.

He also had a sister, Louise van Dievoet, (born in Brussels on 3 November 1880, died in Paris on 26 December 1964) who married André Gachassin-Lafite, Viscount of Orthez, Knight of the Legion of Honor, captain to the 3rd regiment of Hunters of Africa (quartered with Constantine, Algérie). He was Military Assistant-Attache at the Embassy of France in Brussels, then Member of the High Commission of the Ministry for the War near the factories Schneider, Creusot (1915–1918).

Works of other Van Dievoet architects Several members of Van Dievoet's family were also architects. Paul Van Dievoet (1896–1947), his son, architect of the Commune of Schaerbeek Gabriel Van Dievoet (1875–1934), his brother, author of many projects of sgraffitos Eugène Van Dievoet (1862–1937), his first cousin, engineer, professor at the Military academy and architect, member of the Royal Company of Archeology of Brussels, designer of the Brison House, boulevard Reyers, 120 (blue Stone-built house, style Louis XV). Léon Van Dievoet (1907–1993), his nephew, who in addition to an architectural work left hundreds of drawings, watercolours, paintings and engravings of Brussels that were completed between 1923 and 1993 and which preserve a record of many places that have now disappeared.