2023/06/15 by Merlijn Hurx, Sanne Maekelberg, Krista De Jonge · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Historical Art and Architecture Studies #Architecture and Art History Studies #Historical Art and Culture Studies
paper · doi:10.16995/ah.9180
openalex publication_date 2023/06/15 · openalex created_date 2023/06/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Palais Rihour in Lille, built for Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, was an ambitious and influential architectural project that redefined princely magnificence in the 15th century. Despite its significance for court architecture in Northern Europe and Spain, the building has only recently garnered scholarly attention. Its destruction has hindered a comprehensive understanding of its interior. This article presents a meticulous analysis of the great hall and ‘sallette’ in the north-west wing of Rihour based on new empirical data. By combining detailed building specifications, archival data, and visual sources, a reliable reconstruction of the original design has been achieved. Close examination of drawings depicting later modifications and restorations has been crucial in establishing the connection between the great hall and the overall structure. Utilizing these sources, a Critical Digital Model of the north- west wing has been developed, enhancing the visual impact and spatial organization. However, the aim is not to create an attractive but undocumented reconstruction; instead, the model’s accuracy is authenticated and the interpretation traceable through comprehensive documentation of all sources and design choices in a metafile (linked at the end).