't Bootje - a photo on Flickriver

't Bootje

AT THE TURN OF THE 20th century, the Belgian city of Antwerp was in the grip of Art Nouveau mania. The latest fashion in art, architecture, and design to sweep Europe was characterized by its flamboyance and extravagance. One Antwerp client, however, was to push Art Nouveau on to even crazier extremes, a shipbuilder named P. Roeis.

In 1901, Roeis unveiled “The Five Continents” to an unsuspecting Antwerp. He had commissioned these four connected buildings from the architect Frans Smet-Verhas and each one was unashamedly Art Nouveau in its design, with liberal use of color, whiplash curves, and organic forms. Today, the structure still stands (though one of the four was demolished in the 1970s) at the corner of Schildersstraat and Plaatssnijderstraat, in an area famed for its profusion of Art Nouveau decoration.
It is Roeis’ extreme flight of fancy however that makes his building stand out among the others. He had asked Verhas to amend his original plans and incorporate a boat that would project out into the street on the corner elevation. This was to be a not-too-subtle allusion to his shipbuilding trade and source of wealth. The white prow of the boat emerges between the first and second floors and bears Roeis’ initials.

Very soon after its construction, the building was unofficially named “Het Bootje” (“the Little Boat”) by the people of Antwerp. Today it stands as a unique example of amped-up Art Nouveau, and a testament to a time in which architecture was strange, wondrous, and fun.
Source: www.atlasobscura.com

Some rights reserved

Taken in: Belgium / Flanders / Arrondissement of Antwerp / Sint-Anna (show map)

Taken on: September 25, 2022

Tags:

Schildersstraat nr 2

Belgium

remarkable

house

architecture

Panasonic

Leica lens

Lumix DMC-TZ6

wondrous

fun

strange

boat « less

Groups appears in: • Photography • Belgium more » • Artistic Photography • Your Postcard Shot • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Amateurs • visit the world - the travel guide • Travel Photography • Creative Photography • This Is Europe • Nederlands en Vlaams • Views: 1000 • Favorites: 40 • Drawing - Painting - Digital Art • Architecture in Europe • You Think this is Art • Architecture of Days Gone By • Beautiful Capture • Belgian Photographers • **Explore Unexplored!** (10 Favs & No Explored) • Creative Photo Group_ BASIC (P1-C3) • Xataka Foto • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • MOSCA - No AI • Popular Photography Magazine • Architectural Beauty ! • dZoom - Pasión por la Fotografia • archiCentral - Architecture & Urban Design • ***Flickr Global • Flickr Textures • Digital ArtFX2 - Post 1 ~ Award 1 (Required) • Belgium Digital Photography • FLOOR primus (P1/AW 4) but you need 10 faves first to start • ART of ARCHITECTURE (P1/C1) • Fine Gold • THE ONLINE MUSEUM OF ART MODERN P1, C-1 • La Crème de La Crème • Your Best Shot For Today • Poème par images Poem by images Poema por imágenes Poema • Fine Captures Collection • Nederlandstalig vriendenforum • Photographers from around the world • Les Arts et Nous • Amateur Photographer Magazine • Belgium in pictures • Flickr Social • !*Flickr All Stars*! • Colours of Flickr • Show All Your Photos From Around The World. NO SL/AI • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Creative Digital Art Community - Flickr • Visual Poetics • !*Only Your Best*! • We love Belgium • Photo Artistry • HELMET's CHOICE INTERNATIONAL • --> Studio F « less

Stats: 1,584 views / 27 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: