The Great Hall of the Grand Duke of the West: A Reconstruction of Philip the Good’s Palais Rihour in Lille

Abstract

Palais Rihour in Lille, built for Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, was an ambitious and influential architectural project that redefined princely magnificence in the 15th century. Despite its significance for court architecture in Northern Europe and Spain, the building has only recently garnered scholarly attention. Its destruction has hindered a comprehensive understanding of its interior. This article presents a meticulous analysis of the great hall and ‘sallette’ in the north-west wing of Rihour based on new empirical data. By combining detailed building specifications, archival data, and visual sources, a reliable reconstruction of the original design has been achieved. Close examination of drawings depicting later modifications and restorations has been crucial in establishing the connection between the great hall and the overall structure. Utilizing these sources, a Critical Digital Model of the north- west wing has been developed, enhancing the visual impact and spatial organization. However, the aim is not to create an attractive but undocumented reconstruction; instead, the model’s accuracy is authenticated and the interpretation traceable through comprehensive documentation of all sources and design choices in a metafile (linked at the end).