Emiel Van Averbeke

Born in Berchem in 1876 and died in Deurne in 1946, Emiel Van Averbeke trained at the Antwerp Academy and then with the architect Emile Thielens (1892-1899). Employed by the City of Antwerp from 1905, he began in Art Nouveau, moved towards rationalism around 1910 and became the city's chief architect in 1920; he also directed the restorations of the cathedral and the Rubenshuis. He designed many public facilities (fire stations, schools, the Scheldt Tunnel entrances) and took part in the Boerentoren (1929), whose 1926-1927 sketches were taken up by other architects.

Translated from the French original.