ATELIER KEMPE THILL . aNNo architecten . photos: © Ulrich Schwarz
From the very beginning, right through its turbulent history, the Wintercircus in Ghent has always been a composite of a real ring circus and a series of service buildings, all of which completely blend into the nearby buildings of an urban block in the Waalse Krook neighborhood. The first circus – conceived by architect Emile de Weerdt and built in 1894 on the site of a cotton factory that was destroyed by fire in 1920 – already followed this logic. The second circus – which was designed by Jules Pascal Ledoux, opened in 1923 and offered cinema and music events in addition to circus performances – anchored the circus even more firmly in the city thanks to elements such as the main entrance on Lammerstraat. Next to the actual circus building, there was a manège ring for exercising the horses and a stable to accommodate the elephants and other animals, including a separate logistics access from Platteberg close to the water. This “Nouveau Cirque” closed its doors in 1944. Continue reading KEMPE THILL . ANNO
