Alfred Hardy (architect)

Alfred Hardy (1900–1965) was a Belgian contractor and autodidact architect. He became internationally known for his thin-shell concrete constructions in the 1950s and 1960s.[1]

Interior of the Grimbergen airfield hangars
Aircraft hangars at Grimbergen Airfield designed by Hardy in 1947

Born in Quiévrain, he came into contact during World War II with the Ghent Professor Gustave Magnel and Brussels contractor Emile Blaton.[2] Together with Polish engineer Simon Chaikes, he designed in 1947 two cylindrical aircraft hangars for the Grimbergen Airfield.[3][4][5][6] This design was included in the Twentieth Century Engineering retrospective of 1964 in the New York Museum of Modern Art.[7] His pioneering constructions contributed in architecture to the development of thin shells made out of reinforced concrete, later used by architects like Eero Saarinen or Félix Candela. The hangars are protected since 2007.[3][8]

He designed his own house in 1954 in Buizingen, Belgium.[9][10] He also designed an agricultural shed in Villepreux in 1953 that was designated by the government of France as a Monument historique in 2010.[11][12][13]

Hardy married Emma Dassy and had two daughters (Nelly and Adrienne). He died in 1965 in road accident.

References
  1. Voorde, Stephanie Van de; Meyer, Ronald De; Taerwe, Luc (2008). "Beton in de Belgische architectuur, 4: André Paduart: baanbrekende schaalconstructies". Cement. Amsterdam. 8.
  2. Strauven, Iwan (2002). Alfred Hardy, 1900-1965 – De odyssee van een constructief entrepreneur. Ghent: Ghent University Architectural and Engineering Press. ISBN 978-9076714141.
  3. "Vliegveld Grimbergen: ronde vliegtuigloodsen". Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  4. Van Damme, Jan. "Vliegveld Grimbergen Loodsen". www.rvg.be. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  5. L. Dubourg, Les hangars circulaires en béton armé de l'aérodrome de Grimbergen-lez-Bruxelles, in La technique des traveaux, vol. 28, nr. 1-2, Bruxelles, 1952, p. 29-34.
  6. Sauwen, Rik (2007). "Sierlijke lichtheid. Ronde vliegtuigloodsen in Grimbergen" (PDF). Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen (in Dutch). 6.
  7. Glaeser, Ludwig (1964). Twentieth Century Engineering: The Museum of Modern Art. New York.
  8. "Officiële bescherming van het Grimbergse luchtvaartpatrimonium". www.hangarflying.eu (in Dutch). Hangar Flying vzw. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  9. Kaal, Sebastiaan. "Alfred Hardy House and Office - 1954". The Round House Project. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  10. Location: 50°43′26.55″N 4°16′22.65″E
  11. Location: 48°50′21.85″N 2°0′41.08″E
  12. "Hangar agricole de Grand'Maisons à Villepreux - PA78000031 - Monumentum". www.monumentum.fr. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  13. "Hangar agricole de Grand'Maisons". Monuments historiques (in French). 2010.
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