Prison Hasselt †

gevangenis prison Hasselt

 

 

Usually most people want to stay out of a correction facility, but this time i really wanted to get INSIDE this unique location.

Entering a prison is one of the strangest things a human being can encounter in his life.

Cut off from the people you know, your love, your friends, your life.

And that is something you can immediately feel when you are inside.

I must admit that the thought of "not getting out", crossed my mind several times...

 

The construction of this prison in Hasselt started in 1855 by the plans of Architect and sculptor François Derré, on the behalf of Inspector-General Ducpetiaux.

Derré is also known for his plans for the Prison in St-Gilles in Brussels and the Fontaine Saint-Sulpice ,Paris 6.

His plans here were mainly inspired by the panopticon prison, however Derre placed the cells back to back with a corridor on each side.

More common was a central corridor, with the cell on both sides of it.

This meant that the guards from the central nucleus had no idea about the corridors and cells, so the whole principle behind the panopticon was lost.

 

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