Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be

Aula
Congress Venue
The oral and poster presentations, as well as one of the five workshops, of the WAFL-2008
conference, will all take place at the Assembly Hall of Ghent University (AULA). The ‘Aula’ of the
University of Ghent was built in neo-classical style by Louis Roelandt (1786 -1864), architect of the
city of Ghent. It was finished in 1826 as a free and decorative interpretation of classical style,
inspired by the architecture of ancient temples. Remarkable are the monumental front with huge
colonnade and triangular pediment, the peristyle modelled on the ancient thermae, the stately
stairway in black marble, and the amphitheatre with a dome supported by 18 Corinthian columns.
All lunches and coffee breaks will take place in the large “Peristilium” in front of the main room, in
the middle of the exhibition area.
Het Pand
Four of the five workshops on Friday afternoon will take place at ‘Het Pand’ (at 5 min walk from
the Aula). This building is an old Dominican monastery located in the heart of the city on the banks
of the river Leie, near the medieval port with the guildhalls as its remnants.
In 1963, the Board of Management of the University of Ghent decided to acquire the building of the
list of classified premises as they were very much convinced of its value. It was decided to arrange
'Het Pand' as the cultural center of the university, and the Direction of the Buildings was entrusted
with its renovation and restoration. Works were started in 1971 and accomplished in 1991.
Het Groot Vleeshuis
The welcome reception will be held at 'Het Groot Vleeshuis' on Wednesday 10 September.
This medieval building was designed by Gillis De Sutter and constructed between 1407 and 1419.
Meat houses were covered markets where sales were centralised in order to check the meat's
freshness and quality. Private sales at home were forbidden. Sixteen tripe stores were built onto the
south-eastern side of the Groot Vleeshuis between 1542 and 1543. For reasons of hygiene, these
separate stores had to be used for the sale of entrails, skin, and other remains from slaughtered
animals.
The Groot Vleeshuis has a splendid and remarkable truss. A chapel with three large pointed arch
windows was constructed in the building between 1446 and 1448. The chapel contains a 15th
century wall painting which depicts a Worship Service.
From the end of the 19th century, it was also possible to sell meat at home. The Groot Vleeshuis
was then used for various other purposes; it became a post office, storage depot, exhibition area,
and a banquet hall in that order. It is now used as a covered market for regional tourism and
products.
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