Art Noveau Route (Brussels): what they are like and where to see the best houses

Do you know that the Brussels city en Belgium It is considered the capital of art nouveau?.

This architectural trend It became fashionable in some large European capitals at the end of the 19th century and especially at the beginning of the 20th century.

If you are passionate about it, in your trip to brussels You will have the opportunity to see several examples of some of its most prominent architects.

At the outset I will tell you that it is said that in Brussels there is even thousand buildings with the influence of the architecture art nouveau.

Of course in my last trip to the belgian capital I didn't check it, but I can tell you that I made one route of the Art Nouveau.

In it I could see several examples of this architecture that developed in parallel to other similar movements, such as modernism in Barcelona or arts and crafts in Great Britain.

Curiosities history of Art Noveau in Brussels

To understand the context of the development of art nouveau in brussels, I'll tell you what Belgium It had a great industrial boom at the beginning of the 20th century, which led this country to be among the five most developed countries in the world.

In just 40 years, from 1870 to 1910, the city of Brussels went from 250 to 800.000 inhabitants.

It was the time of king Leopold II, during which the city expanded with the development of new neighborhoods, some of them for wealthy people, like those that grew up around the Luisa Avenue.

It was there where architects like Victor HortaMore o Paul Hanker They began to build these to order buildings art nouveau of very expensive execution in which they gave free rein to their imagination.

All of them have in common the use of materials such as iron or glass, as well as a very rich ornamentation with the lines always moving.

Of course, with two different trends, the most organic, led by Horta, and the most geometric, characteristic of the architecture of Hankar.

The main houses of art nouveau designed by Victor HortaMore were declared Heritage 2000 the year.

Best houses on the Art Noveau Route in Brussels

In the most central area of ​​Brussels you find some architecture examples art nouveau.

Old England House, art nouveau in Brussels

During my walk through the center, there was a building that really caught my attention, the so-called Old england, which has been the headquarters of the Museum of Musical Instruments.

Built in 1899 by Paul Saintenoy, iron and glass are the main protagonists of its façade, and you find it on the street (Montagne de la Cour 2) that rises to the Museum Hill.

Another example of art nouveau, which on this occasion I could not see, is the façade of the comic museum, work of Victor HortaMore (Rue des Sables 20).

However, it is in the surroundings of the aforementioned Luisa Avenue where the most important samples of the art nouveau in Brussels, which you can visit in a cultural route.

Solvay House, art nouveau in Brussels

At number 224 of the aforementioned avenue you have the Solvay House built by Victor HortaMore. It was a work of his friend from Freemasonry Armand Solvay, who commissioned him to build his new house without any budget limit.

In parallel, Horta He built his own house.

It took the architect five years to build the Solvay House, so when it finished, it happened that the electric light was already working.

As a curiosity, to show that he had incorporated this new invention, all the light bulbs in the house were exposed, without a lamp to hide them.

Currently the interior of the Solvay House It can only be seen on organized group visits.

Tassel House, art nouveau in Brussels

Other buildings that you will be able to see in a Art Noveau route through this area of Brussels is Tassel House, the first one he built Horta in this architectural style, in 1893, and which was presented as a new type of single-family home.

Nearby is the Ciamberlani House, which was owned by a painter. With a more geometric style, it is the work of Paul Hanker.

During your walk you will also be able to see the CPaul Hankar handle.

Horta house museum, art nouveau in Brussels

But where you have a good chance to see what the interior of these style houses art nouveau It is during the visit of the Horta House Museum,

What is now a visitable museum occupies two buildings that were designed by the aforementioned architect, which fulfilled the double function of his residence and study.

During this visit, if you like this Architectonic style, you will be able to see true genius in the ornamentation in which his own Horta He designed the works in wood, iron and mosaics.

On weekdays, the museum visit In the mornings it is reserved for groups, and from 14 p.m. visits from individuals are accepted until 17,30:11 p.m., while the hours on Saturdays and Sundays are from 17,30 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

Finally I will tell you that in the Brussels tourist office you have a small brochure with the route art nouveau, which details the location of the main buildings of this architecture.