Hôtel Solvay, Art Nouveau mansion in Avenue Louise, Brussels, Belgium
The Solvay House features curved stone balconies, cast iron elements, and large windows across its symmetrical limestone facade with intricate decorative patterns.
Ernest Solvay's son Armand commissioned architect Victor Horta to design this residence between 1895 and 1900, providing unlimited financial resources for its creation.
The building incorporates natural light through a central glass dome above the main staircase, reflecting the Art Nouveau principles of organic forms and space fluidity.
The residence opens for guided tours on specific days, allowing visitors to explore the furnished interiors, decorated halls, and original architectural elements.
The mansion contains mobile enameled panels that separate the dining room from reception areas, demonstrating innovative solutions for space organization.
Location: City of Brussels
Inception: 1900
Architects: Victor Horta
Architectural style: Art Nouveau architecture
Part of: Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta
Phone: +3226405645
Email: info@hotelsolvay.be
Website: http://hotelsolvay.be
GPS coordinates: 50.82632,4.36528
Latest update: May 27, 2025 17:31
Between 1890 and 1910, Art Nouveau spread across Europe, producing buildings that combined craft traditions with industrial techniques through organic forms, natural motifs, and detailed ornamental work. Architects including Victor Horta in Brussels, Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, and Otto Wagner in Vienna designed structures that departed from historical revival styles, instead emphasizing curved lines, wrought iron elements, and colored glass. The movement encompassed concert halls and railway stations as well as private homes and commercial facades, creating a body of work that remains central to the architectural identity of several European cities. Visitors can trace this development through multiple locations. Brussels offers the Victor Horta Museum, Tassel House, and Hôtel van Eetvelde as prime examples of the Belgian variant. Barcelona showcases Gaudí's Casa Batlló and Bellesguard alongside the Palau de la Musica Catalana with its elaborate tilework. Paris preserves Hector Guimard's Métropolitain entrances and the Lavirotte Building, while Prague presents the Municipal House and the Bedřich Smetana Museum. Nancy serves as a center of French Art Nouveau with the School Museum and Villa Majorelle, and Budapest displays the style through Gresham Palace and the Liszt Academy of Music. From Riga to Turin, Vienna to Belgrade, these buildings document a brief but influential period when architects reshaped urban environments across the continent.
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