Unfolding the Archives #4

In a new episode of the exhibition series  Unfolding the Archives  we immerse you in the world of construction companies .

Construction sites are pre-eminently places 'in transit': every day contractors work there step by step on a new environment. With hidden treasures from archives of these construction companies, we offer you a look behind the scenes of the construction process.

With this exhibition we put  buildings in the making  in the spotlight: from design to realized project. The archives from the construction sector contain a wealth of information. Even more than the archives of architects, they shed light on the activity of building itself. 

Using  site photos, publicity brochures, design plans, magazines and letters , this exhibition outlines how the construction profession and the collaboration between contractors and architects has evolved since the nineteenth century. These documents illustrate the different construction phases and all construction actors involved. The technical knowledge and the tools needed during the implementation phase are also discussed. On the basis of the project files of a number of striking projects, in Ostend and beyond, we visualize the construction process of our environment.