Restauration “Sint-Lievenspoort”
under the supervision of EVR Architecten - Gent
The project
The former convent of the Sisters of Love (Zuster van Liefde van Jezus en Maria) is situated in Lovendegem, a municip¬ality in the provence of East-Flanders in Belgium. Its history goes back to the early 19th century, when father P.J. Triest took pity on the local poor children and made an effort to enhance their education with the help of three sisters. Only one year later father Triest introduced home care avant la lettre. The convent was erected in 1803 and incorporated girls’ schools, a girls’ orphanage and a ward for the terminally ill youngsters. When Monsignor Fallot de Beaumont and mayor Dellafaille of Ghent visited the small convent, they were so impressed by this initiative and the success their initiators booked that they requested father Triest to set up a similar initiative in Ghent. And so it happened that father Triest and the Sisters moved to the Abbey of Terhagen in 1805 and continued their good work, even resulting in the first school for deaf children in Belgium.
A new convent was built in 1874-1877 and it developed a complicated history. In 1903 the convent in the Sint-Lievens¬poortstraat in Lovendegem became a home for children who’s families weren’t capable of looking after them. Shortly after, it was decided to start a nursing school to keep up with the need for professional caretakerss. However, in 1956 it was decided to close the home. After construction works they turned the complex into the Royal Institute for girls with hearing and speaking disabilities. Although there are no more nurses living there, the buildings still incorporate an Institute for Paramedical Professions, a rehabilitation centre and a school for children with cognitive disabilities.
The convent of the Sisters of Love was designed by Arthur Verhaegen - known for his numerous convent projects and his contributions to the abbey of Affligem, the Sint-Salvatorkathedraal in Bruges, Duivelsteen in Ghent, the restaurati¬on of ‘t Gravensteen among many other projects - and was built in a Pugin Gothic Revival architecture between 1874 and 1877. Since then the building has been adapted several times, resulting in a rich building history.
The adjacent Romanesque Revival church “Onze-Lieve-Vrouw door de Engelen Opgenomen” dates back to 1865 and was designed by architect J. Bruyenne.
The restauration
The restauration process included a standard procedure, during which only soft principles were put into practice and gentle methods were executed. Sustainability was key and we chose to focus on the consolidation of the heritage elements and values, combined with the adaption of the building to modern standards and comfort levels.
Consulted literature:
Hap, S., Bouwhistorische nota: voormalig Klooster van de Zusters van Liefde van Jezus en Maria, 2012.
Based on the following literature:
Baillieul, B., Leeman, K., Klooster Zusters van Liefde J.M. te Gent. Geschiedenis, iconografie en stoffering van de
opeenvolgende kapelinterieurs, Gent, 1991.
Capiteyn, A., Decavele, J., De Gentse Feesten. Biografie van een 150-jarig monument, Gent, 1993.
De Maeyer, J., De rode baron. Arthur Verhaegen. 1847-1917, Leuven, 1994.
Deneckere, G., Het Gentse Sint-Vicentiusziekenhuis. De Zusters van Liefde J.M. en de ziekenzorg te Gent, 1805 tot heden,
Gent, 1997.
Haslinghuis, E.J., Janse, H., Bouwkundige termen. Verklarend woordenboek van de westerse architectuur- en
bouwhistorie, Leiden, 2005.
Consulted archives:
Stadsarchief Gent
Archief van het Kadaster van Oost-Vlaanderen
Online fototheek KIK
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