Dagblad Vooruit

Name Dagblad Vooruit

Address Sint Pietersnieuwstraat 128

City/Neighborhood Ghent

Style(s)

Modernism

Original use

Offices

Année 1930

Architect(s) and/or artist(s)

Brunfaut Fernand
Brunfaut Maxime

The newspaper Vooruit, founded in 1884, moved to modern buildings housing the editorial office and printing works in 1930. The building was used until 1983, then became a cultural centre, a student accommodation and recently a youth hostel. Designed by modernist architect Fernand Brunfaut (also architect of the newspaper housing "Le Peuple" in Brussels, and socialist representative.

His son Maxime was commissioned to create the interior furniture and other decorative elements.

A very avant-garde, expressionist façade is all about verticality.

Obvious contrast between the ground floor where the curves alternate with the horizontal lines.

Separated from the street by a few steps, the bronze doors bearing the inscription "Leest VOORUIT" open onto a vestibule (today a restaurant).

The wall is colored with orange and black ceramics and stained glass.

On the right, a superposition of black ceramic and glass bands ends the entrance.

The glass part of the façade is in total opposition to the bottom.

All about verticality, with its large glass wall in the form of repeated oriel windows, separated by a ceramic part decorated with chevrons

A high tower, made of glass, bears the name of the newspaper, and ends with a "lighthouse" element.

Originally the lettering was in neon lighting, today they are large red letters applied

Exceptional building that is worth a detour, listed since June 1988.