Bordiau, Gédéon-Nicolas-Joseph

(1832-1904)

   Gédéon Bordiau was born in Neufvilles, in the province of Hainault, on 2 February 1832. He enrolled at the Académie royale des Beaux-Arts in 1847 and, at 22, was apprenticed to Joseph Poelaert. In 1870 he submitted a draft plan for embellishment of the northeast districts of the city and was appointed by Burgomaster Jules Anspach to carry out the scheme. This area would become the district called quartier des Squares. An eclectic architect, Bordiau counted among his projects the Hotel Métropole, the exhibition halls in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, and several exhibition halls for the World's Fairs of 1888 and 1897. Bordiau died in Brussels on 23 January 1904.

   See also Architecture.