Who built Brussels? The profile of artisans and entrepreneurs in the Brussels construction sector around 1865

Around 1865, Brussels was undergoing rapid transformation, but the roles of artisans and entrepreneurs in shaping the city remained largely unexplored. A study analyzing almanachs, patent registers, voter registries, and cadastral matrices reveals that the construction sector was dominated by a diverse group of small-scale operators, including women and migrants, alongside a few wealthy entrepreneurs leading large firms. This decentralized, labor-intensive model allowed for widespread local engagement in urban development. The findings offer new insights into Brussels' urban fabric formation and highlight the enduring need for locally anchored construction practices.

Degraeve, M. (2024). Who built Brussels? The profile of artisans and entrepreneurs in the Brussels construction sector around 1865 (H. White, Trans.). Brussels Studies. https://doi.org/10.4000/brussels.7350