Localized ornamentation: Art nouveau in the works of Eisenstein and Bascourt
E. Audere (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
I Nevzgodin – Mentor (TU Delft - Heritage & Architecture)
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Abstract
This thesis explores the localization of Art Nouveau architecture through a comparative analysis of the works of Mikhail Eisenstein in Riga and Joseph Bascourt in Antwerp. This study investigates how Art Nouveau principles differentiate between themselves by examining specific case studies—Eisenstein's buildings on Alberta Street and Bascourt's houses in the Zurenborg district. The research employs a multi-method approach combining visual analysis, archival research, and comparison to define differences and commonalities in facade composition, ornamentation, and symbolic language. The findings reveal that Eisenstein favored expressive, heavily ornamented facades rich with mythological and allegorical imagery. However, Bascourt adopted a more restrained geometric style that embedded symbolism within the rhythm and material contrast of the facade. Despite their different aesthetic strategies, both architect's facades serve as visual narratives, embodying the Art Nouveau character of uniting art and architecture. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how global architectural movements acquire localized identities through the lens of individual artistic expression.