The genius of René Greisch ((b. 18/2/1929 – d. 12/07/2000)
The penultimate of a family of 13 children, René Greisch finished his humanities in Liège. He arrived on the banks of the Meuse in 1941 and never left the “Cité Ardente”: he studied civil engineering there, before completing his training with a degree in architecture.
He also specialized in experimental research in the field of steel constructions. It was here that the creative, innovative, artistic and experimental engineer-architect was born.
The late development of the Walloon motorway network gave René Greisch his first major spectacular projects: the high viaduct of Sécheval, the high viaduct of Remouchamps on the E25 motorway, and the viaduct of Eau-Rouge.
Photo: greisch.com
Then there are his bridges: at Lixhe, at Lanaye, at Hermalle. The latter was immediately recognised as “the most beautiful steel structure in Belgium” and was awarded the prize of the European Convention for Steel Construction (1987).
Bureau Greisch is at the forefront of its sector, because aesthetics must not overshadow technical prowess: the construction of the Millau bridge, with its launching technique, stunned engineers from all over the world. The know-how of Greisch and his office is also shown at the University of Liege where he conceives the Greenhouses of the Institute of Botany.
He studies the resistance and the stability of the glass roof of the CHU (imagined by Charles Vandenhove) and conceives the test hall of the Metallurgical Research Centre, on the site of Sart-Tilman. In 1989, René Greisch was awarded the prestigious Gustave Magnel gold medal.
Source: Connaître la Wallonie.
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
