Excavating the Emile Braun square in Gent: an archaeological dissection of the 'genius loci'...
13 December 2011
Excavation Emile Braun square
The reconstruction of the city centre squares in Ghent – the so-called KoBra project ― was preceded by extensive excavations of the whole project area. This archaeological research was directed by the Department of Urban Archaeology of the City of Ghent. A first evaluation of the field work done at the Emile Braun square yielded new urban insights. They make it possible to identify the successive phases of spatial development of the area from prehistoric times to the demolition of the last building block (that occupied the present-day square) in 1960. Read more…
The backbone of that quarter is a NW-SE oriented street, later known as the Korte Ridderstraat, which is now believed to be part of the medieval trade route overland from Bruges to Cologne. The occupancy along this axis shows a sophisticated balance between buildings and open space, between enclosure and perspective.
Analysis of the archaeological data gave evidence of a strong urban vision directing the spatial development of that quarter. The street intersections or enlargements functioned as small squares, which played an important role in the fabric of the medieval and pre-modern city. Only a few of them grew out to real squares (considered as such) in modern times. Those ‘small squares’ are often neglected in classical urban topography, which is rather focussed on the larger squares, with well-known economical, political or ceremonial functions. This urban phenomenon was not unique to Ghent, but appears to have been predominant in other medieval cities as well.
The research into the archaeological soil archive led to another, quite unexpected conclusion: the successive phases of the spatial development of the Emile Braun square from the medieval period onwards – e.g. in the 15th century, in the later 17th century, and in the early 19th century – appear to have been surprisingly well planned and carefully designed. This insight in urban planning is completely new. Until now, the loosely defined open space known as the Emile Braun square was considered to be the unintended result of successive and ill-considered clearances of building blocks, surrounded by rear facades.
In short, the archaeological evidence falsify some wide spread – but erroneous – ideas about spatial development at the heart of the city centre. From this experience we can learn once more that, prior to large development projects, a thorough interdisciplinary (archaeological, historical and built historical) research is needed to get fully grasp of the ‘genius loci’ and to take this into account when designing the reconstruction of old city quarters, especially in interpretive plans.
Marie Christine Laleman and Geert Vermeiren', Gent