Michel Polak
{{Short description|Belgian architect}}
{{Infobox architect
| significant_buildings = Villa Empain, Europa building
| image = Michel Polak Architect.jpg
| birth_date = 27 January 1885
| birth_place = Mexico City
| death_date = 4 October 1948
| death_place = Brussels
}}
Michel Polak (27 January 1885 – 4 October 1948) was a Belgian-Swiss architect.{{Cite web |title=Michel Polak {{!}} AEX |url=https://www.architecture-exhibitions.com/de/civa/michel-polak |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=www.architecture-exhibitions.com}}{{Cite web |last=dieter |date=2022-03-29 |title=EXPO: Michel Polak @ Villa Empain |url=https://civa.brussels/en/exhibitions-events/expo-michel-polak-villa-empain |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=C.I.II.III.IV.A |language=en}}
Career
Polak used various styles according to the tastes of his clientele: Beaux-Arts, Art Deco, refined modern classicism. In Brussels, he notably designed the Residence Palace, the Hôtel Le Plaza, and the Villa Empain,{{cite news |last=Rankin |first=Jennifer |title=Gold leaf and Gatsby: Brussels lays claim to birth of art deco with year of celebrations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/mar/29/gold-leaf-and-gatsby-brussels-lays-claim-to-birth-of-art-deco-with-year-of-celebrations |website=The Guardian |date=2025-03-30 |access-date=2025-04-02}} during the first half of the 20th century.{{Cite web |title=Michel Polak |url=https://www.villaempain.com/en/expo/polak/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Boghossian Foundation |language=en-US}}
List of works
- Villa of Henri Nestlé, in Montreux (Transformation, 1910)
- Riant-Château luxury apartment complex, in Montreux (1911–1913)
- Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, in Brussels (1923–1926)
- Municipal Theatre, in Huy (1927)
- Hôtel Atlanta, Boulevard Adolphe Max/Adolphe Maxlaan 3, in Brussels (1924–1929)
- Development of the Grand Bazar, Boulevard Anspach/Anspachlaan, in Brussels (1926)
- Hôtel Albert I, Place Charles Rogier/Karel Rogierplein, in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (1927–1928)
- Hôtel Le Plaza, Boulevard Adolphe Max, in Brussels (1928–1932)
- Headquarters of the Electric Company Electrobel, Place du Trône/Troonplein, in Brussels (1928–29)
- Villa Empain, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt/Franklin Rooseveltlaan 67, in Brussels (1931)
- Dispensary of the Red Cross, Rue du Rempart des Moines/Papenvest, in Brussels (1933)
- Eastman Dental Hospital, Leopold Park, in Brussels (1934–35)
- Building of the Régie des Téléphones et Télégraphes, Rue des Palais/Paleizenstraat, in Schaerbeek (1935)
- Théo Fleischman, Avenue Hamoir/Hamoirlaan, in Uccle (1935)
- Buildings, Boulevard Saint-Michel/Sint-Michielslaan, in Etterbeek (1936)
- Concourse of the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg, in Brussels (1937)
File:Résidence Palace seen from Chaussée d'Etterbeek.jpg|Résidence Palace, Brussels (1923–1926)
File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Hôtel Atlanta - 01.jpg|Hôtel Atlanta, Brussels (1924–1929)
File:Adolphe Maxlaan 118.jpg|Hôtel Le Plaza, Brussels (1928–1932)
File:Siège de Tractebel 04.JPG|Headquarters of Electrobel, Brussels (1928–29)
File:Bruxelles - Fondation Boghossian-Empain.jpg|Villa Empain, Brussels (1931)
File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Institut Eastman - 01.jpg|Eastman Dental Hospital, Brussels (1934–35)
File:Belgian Red Cross House in Brussels 2022.jpg|Dispensary of the Belgian Red Cross, designed with Alfred Hoch, Brussels (1933)