The architect as master of ceremonies: building the Antwerp Royal Entrepôt

In the early 19th century, a vast complex of bonded warehouses was constructed on the Antwerp docks. Because of its large scale, long construction period (1828-1834), the many actors involved in the building process and the complex context in which it was conceived, the Antwerp ‘royal entrepôt’ was a remarkable building project. This paper will discuss the professional position of the architect in the construction process of the Antwerp entrepôt. By examining correspondence documenting the day-to-day practice on the building site, we will elaborate upon the project’s granting procedure, the client-architect relationship and the management of the building site. The analysis of the correspondence clearly illustrates the ambiguity of the architect’s professional position. On the one hand, the events seem to suggest an upcoming professionalization of the architectural profession. On the other hand, the client-architect relationship clearly demonstrates the fragility of the architect’s authority, even in relation to technical issues. Throughout the project, the building site emerges as a complex social environment, a hyperlocal microcosm constantly influencing the building process. Managing the building site was only possible with a clear understanding of its internal logic, demonstrating the importance of the architect’s assistants to the continuity of continuity of the works.