Given the importance of the horses to the bacteriological research, the former stable buildings and garden were the pride of the Institute. As can be seen on Emile Morren’s photograph of the stables from around the turn of the century, their romantic appearance with castle-like turrets indicates the high status of their inhabitants, the horses. The historicising dormer windows refer to the traditional model as can be found elsewhere in Leuven, such as in the Great Beguinage (fig. 22). The interior of the Bacteriological Institute follows the trend of other university buildings at that time where historicising elements are kept at a minimum to serve the strict needs of its scientific function. Since the building did not yet have electricity in 1897, large windows were used everywhere for a maximum amount of the daylight. Especially the teaching laboratory behind the loggia, where microscopes were used, was massively lit. However, this only partially explains the double height of the room and its three large windows towards the front and the back (fig. 86) An interior picture of Louis Cloquet’s Bacteriological Institute in Ghent (1905) gives an idea on how such a teaching laborato-
Analysis: Architectural
ry was organized (fig. 87) The large amount of gas lights for all the students could be another reason for the double height of Van Arenbergh’s laboratory. More than in other rooms, there was the danger for gas leaks, in which case there had to be enough air available in the room (see further). The laboratories in the garden wing, where experimental animals were dissected, are well-lit as well but are less high. In order to light the enclosed inner spaces on the right wing of the main building, Van Arenbergh used interior fanlights above the different rooms to light the inner corridors and storage rooms (fig. 88). Similar fanlights have been used to light the auditorium since the circulation galleries next to it prevented the use of windows on ground level (fig. 89). These long circulation galleries from the main building along the auditorium towards the laboratory volume, are an essential feature of the building, creating a promenade architecturale where the scientific staff was able to look at the garden and surroundings during their walks within the building (fig. 90). In the section of the building, one can also see that the laboratory volume is not on the same level as the main building and transverse auditorium
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