The Rolinkazer was a Belgian artillery kazer, built between 1877 and 1883 in Etterbeek near the Waversesteenweg and later Louis Schmidt Avenue and Commander Ponthier Street. This happened after King Leopold II had decided to attract some barracks in the vicinity of Brussels.
After the First World War, these barracks were named after Hippolyte (1885-1914), Louis (1886-1915) and Gustave-Marc Rolin (1892-1918), three brothers who died during this conflict. In 1925 a large monument was established for the central gateway in honor of all fallen artillers.
The artillers left the buildings in 1944, after which they were taken from October 1948 until 1974 by the battalion for the transmission, the 5th TTr. After leaving this unit, the barracks were abandoned and ruined the buildings - the state guard even got permission to use the field for shooting exercises.
Despite the fact that several organizations enlisted for the preservation of the patrimony and there were some interesting proposals for renovating some of the site, the buildings were demolished in 1993. Even the magnificent entrance hall flanked by two towers with tilting and with a monopoly of Leopold II, was demolished. One building was temporarily saved because of the great historical value, namely "the building of the married ones". This house was in fact not intended for couples but could be used during the wedding night of the soldiers. In the end, it was decided to destroy this building.
Instead of the barracks, a building complex with apartments and offices, completed in 2002 by the architectural agency Assar (they also renovated the Royal Military School). A highly controversial project, "The Tour Rolin", with 12 floors, was discharged as a result of vehement protest from the neighborhood residents. Just the name of the new buildings and the Hippolyte Rolin promenade still remind the existence of a barracks at this place.
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