Old Law Courts, Ghent: Main and side facades facing the Lys river

The Law Courts (1836-1846), Veldstraat, and the Opera (1836-1848), Schouwburgstraat, in Ghent, mark the transition to a freer interpretation of architecture under the influence of the international Renaissance Revival movement, which was then becoming fashionable. Roelandt drew his inspiration from Roman palazzi and Palladian villas but modified the strict geometry of the overall plans to incorporate more plastic forms. [A new courthouse building was opened in 2007, so this building is now referred to as the 'old' law court].