Weelde Town Hall – Ravels
Gemeentelaan 60, 2381 Weelde – Ravels
1956 – 1958
Detached building, originally S-shaped floor plan, current state with extension. Main building with basement, two floors and raised ground floor. Constructed with yellow brick under a gabled roof and straight cornice. On the left of the façade is an iron decoration featuring with the Weelde coat of arms. The former main entrance is emphasised by a double staircase and a projecting balcony on the first floor. This balcony is supported by four concrete beams that continue into the interior. Notable are the nine elongated windows on the first floor, which provide light to the council chamber. The verticality is continued on the ground floor and basement with smaller windows.
The covered bicycle shed with its date stone is connected to the left side wall of the main building. To the left behind the main building is a lower extension under a hipped roof. Here we see the staff entrance. The original rear side is only partially visible. The open space that initially stretched between the main building and the rear building was filled during the expansion in 1999 -2000. The original exterior wall has been preserved within the current interior.
To the right of the main building, we see a lower and L-shaped extension. Notable is the alternation of yellow and black brick. This previously served as a garage for the fire engine. Today, the original garage door has been replaced by windows, allowing the space to be used as offices. Two more buildings are attached to this extension on the right. In front is a tower in alternating black and yellow brick, which was used by the fire department as a drying tower. At the rear is a smaller garage under a hipped roof. The new building is connected on this side and the current main entrance is here.
The interior is partially preserved. There is now an office space where the main entrance and entrance hall used to be. The original staircase is still present and leads to the council chamber on the first floor. Of interest are the ceiling beams, which create a link between interior and exterior. With the expansion in 1999 – 2000, it was decided to preserve the original exterior wall and integrate it into the new interior. Notable are the original window openings, which in some places have received new wooden frames.
Text Written for the Flanders Heritage Agency
