Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels) Belgium

Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels) - Belgium

Short Report

The four large mansions - Hôtel', tassel, Hotel Solvay, Hotel of Eetvelde and Maison * Atelier Horta - located in Brussels and designed by the architect Victor Horta, one of the oldest initiators of Art Nouveau architecture, are some of the most remarkable breakthrough works of architecture of the end of the 19th century. The stylistic revolution represented by this work is characterised by the open, the spread of light, and the brilliant merge of the curved lines of decoration with the structure of the building.

Wide Report

The appearance of the Art Nouveau in the last years of the 19th century a decisive phase in the development of architecture, allowing any subsequent developments, and the four mansions of Victor Horta in Brussels (Hôtel', tassel, Hotel Solvay, Hotel of Eetvelde, Maison et Atelier Horta) exceptional witness of its radical new approach. They brilliantly illustrate the transition from the 19th to the 20th century in the art, found and society. The stylistic revolution represented by this work is characterized by an open, the spread of light, and the brilliant merge of the curved lines of decoration with the structure of the building.

The Hotel', tassel can be regarded as the founding fathers of Art Nouveau. In job of Professor Emile', tassel in 1893, it was the first work in which Horta had failed to achieve its original design of architecture. The house was completed in 1894, but remained Horta design furniture for a number of years. After the Second World War the house was divided into small flats, so little decoration remained visible. In 1976, the street facade and the doors were restored and the building is adapted as prestige offices. The street facade, built from natural stone, it is remarkably integrated in its context. Above the entrance is a two-storey bay window in an innovative steel construction. On the other side of the street the building is the entrance, a mezzanine, first and second floor and a loft. These levels are shifted to the garden side by means of a central staircase.

Commissioned by Armand Solvay, Hôtel Solvay was built from 1895 to 1898, with furniture completed in 1903. In 1957 the building was the place of fashion house; in 1980 the owners began with the restoration of the building, including the return of the glass ceilings of the main stage, cooling of the passenger compartment, and the restoration of the facade. It is the best preserved of all Horta's house and keep the passenger compartment intact, including original artwork and the utilities in operating condition. In 1895, the diplomat and secretary-general of the Congo, Of Eetvelde, which the parliament that bears his name and start of construction in 1897. The building was a house for the family and a prestigious setting for the reception of international guests. The west wing area was completed in 1900 and the east wing in 1901. In 1920, after the death of Mme Of Eetvelde the property is divided into two parts.

The Maison et Atelier Horta responded to the professional and family needs of the architect, and were built in 1898-1901 on two parties in a trendy area of the city. After his divorce, he rented the building for a while, but then remained living there, making changes in the interior; a terrace and winter garden were added and the studio was increased. The facade is built from stone and has subtle designed metal railing. The most spectacular element in the building is represented by the huge glass ceiling on the main stage. In 1919 the buildings were sold to Large Henri Pinte and in 1926 the two parts of the building were separated. In 1961 the municipality of Saint Gilles acquired the residence for a museum of Horta's work.

The four mansions by Victor Horta forms an essential link in the classical tradition of the Modern Movement in the history of architecture, such as conceived by one of the pioneers of the Art Nouveau. He revolution in the architectural concepts of his time with the introduction of the idea of an open and the creation of real dialog of materials and their applications according to their intrinsic nature within a new vision decoration. The Horta buildings soar in the 19th-century tradition of bourgeois residential buildings, where residential and representative functions, for which a subtle organization of spaces and differential movement. In any case, Horta's genius made a coherent unit of architecture and decoration, reflects the personality of the owner.

Historical Data

The Hotel', tassel can be regarded as the founding fathers of Art Nouveau. In job of Professor Emile', tassel in 1893, it was the first work in which Victor Horta was able to his original view of architecture, with all the attributes that he developed in his other mansions. The house was completed in 1894, but remained Horta design furniture for a few years, as well as some minor changes requested by the client. When you are ready, the Hôtel', tassel which mixed reactions, but it was soon regarded as an essential element in the development of modern architecture. After the Second World War the house was divided into small flats so little decoration remained visible. In 1976, the architect Jean Jager bought the house restored the street facade and the doors, and adaptation of the building to function as prestige offices.

Commissioned by Armand Solvay, Hôtel Solvay was built from 1895 to 1898, with furniture completed in 1903. The construction of buildings was designed by the architects C Bosmans and H Vandeveld, starting in 1899, although Horta can be consulted for the design. The Solvay family maintained the house until 1957, when M and Mme Wittamer-De Camps purchased, so as to prevent the demolition. The building was the headquarters of their fashion house, for any changes. The southern light-well, of which the glass was broken in 1942 was closed by atelier floors. On the ground floor two large display windows were opened. After the transfer of the fashion activity elsewhere in 1980, the owners started with the restoration of the building, including the return of the glass ceilings of the main stage (1980-82), cooling of the passenger compartment, and the restoration of the facades (1988-89).

Commissioned by M and Mme Of Eetvelde in 1895, the construction of the Hotel Of Eetvelde began in 1897; the west wing was completed in 1900, and the east wing in 1901. In 1920, after the death of Mme Of Eetvelde, the property was divided into two parts. The original building and the east wing (4 avenue City Of Palmerston) was sold to the Pouppez Kettenis the family, who live there about 30 years. In 1950 it was bought by the current owner, the Fédération de l'Industrie du Gaz (FIGAZ), which was the main basis for representation. A garage was added to the east wing, and in 1966 offices were added to the light. In 1988, FIGAZ started with a restoration, carried out by a former student of Horta, the architect Jean Jager, and the architect Barbara Van der Wee. The west wing was connected to the corner building in 1920, making some unfortunate changes. When the Nicolaides-Hoffman family acquired the building in 1926, they wanted to dismantle them, but were fortunately not in the authorization. Finally the building was bought by Jean Jager as his personal residence.

The Maison * Atelier Horta responded to the professional and family needs of the architect, and were built in 1898- 1901 on two parties in a trendy neighborhood of the city. Shortly after completion, Horta has some changes, enlargement of the house in the garden in 1906. After his divorce, he leased buildings for a while, but then there was live, by changes in the passenger compartment, a terrace and winter garden were added and the studio was increased. In 1911 the street was changed to Horta a garage. A new restoration was started in 1989.

Source:whc/unesco