Léon Stynen, Architect

Léon Stynen (1899-1990) trained as an architect at the Academy in Antwerp. Among his most famous designs are the Belgian pavilion for the world exhibition in New York (in collaboration with Henry van de Velde and Victor Bourgeois), the BP-building, the casinos of Ostend and Knokke and, of course, deSingel. In addition to the realisation of an important architectural oeuvre, he also played a major role in the development of architecture education and architectural culture in Belgium. He became director of the Architecture Department of the Antwerp Academy in 1948. In 1950, he became director of the National Higher Institute for Architecture and the Decorative Arts in La Cambre. In 1963, the then recently established Order of Architects selected him as their first national president.

Despite this impressive career, many people no longer know his designs and his name is relatively unknown to the general public. The exhibition 'Léon Stynen, Architect' aims to change this situation. Artefacts from the rich Stynen archive will document a number of iconic designs from the first sketch to finished building. This archival material is brought to life via contemporary and recent architectural photographs, models, works from private collections and the testimonies of former colleagues, employees and clients.

Vernissage
Thursday 11 October at 8pm in deSingel international arts campus (Antwerp, BE).

Programme (8pm - 9pm):

• Welcome by Sofie De Caigny (director Flanders Architecture Institute)
• Presentation exhibition by Bart Tritsmans and Nina Serulus (curators 'Léon Stynen, architect')
• Talk about the contemporary meaning of Léon Stynen with Filip Dujardin (artist/photographer), Bart Hollanders (architect Eagles of Architecture) and Dirk Laureys (collection coordinator Flanders Architecture Institute)