“Who was Edouard Kufferath?” you might ask. Avenue Edouard Kufferath bears the name of a remarkable man. Let’s discover his story.
This avenue in Laeken connects the Avenue Rommelaere to the Avenue Houba de Strooper. It also intersects with the Avenues Laënnec and Jean-Baptiste Depaire. The Avenue Edouard Kufferath was planned in 1928. Engineer-architect Pierre Gillet designed it. The street’s creation was authorized by royal decree on April 15, 1931.
The city of Brussels officially named it on May 24, 1932. Like other streets near Brugmann Hospital, it honors a doctor. Edouard Kufferath was a gynecologist. He also served as rector of the Université libre de Bruxelles and a communal councilor.
Edouard Kufferath was born in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode on December 25, 1853. He died in London on April 11, 1909. Kufferath came from a German family of musicians. He became a professor of obstetrics for 20 years. He was Rector of the ULB in 1905-1906.
Kufferath was a pioneer in Belgian obstetrics. He implemented strict aseptic rules. This drastically reduced maternal and newborn mortality. These deaths were often caused by puerperal fever. He improved symphyseotomy techniques. He even invented a new method for inducing labor.
The forceps he designed became widely known. Obstetricians in Brussels used them for over six decades. This was before the Swedish vacuum extractor became popular. Kufferath’s teaching was exceptional. He was also an active communal councilor in Brussels.
The Avenue Edouard Kufferath itself features buildings of varied styles. Some houses were built before World War II. These show Beaux-Arts inspiration, like number 26. Architect Raymond d’Helft designed it in 1937. Others display Art Deco influences, such as number 9. François Robberechts designed this one for himself in 1939. After the war, modernist apartment buildings appeared.
Edouard Kufferath, a man of medicine and music, left a lasting impact. His name lives on through this avenue. It connects not just streets but also the past and present.