Maison des Chats - Hier ist in den Kater en de Kat, Protected heritage house in Brussels, Belgium
Maison des Chats is a protected heritage building in Renaissance Revival style on Boulevard Adolphe Max in Brussels. The facade features decorative elements and displays the Dutch inscription 'Hier ist in den kater en de kat' above the entrance area.
Architect Hendrik Beyaert constructed this house between 1873 and 1875, following the regulation of the Senne River and the creation of central Brussels boulevards. The building arose as part of the urban modernization wave that fundamentally changed the city's face.
The house gets its name from the cat sculptures that define its appearance and play with Dutch wordplay. The facade displays these feline motifs clearly, making it a place where animal imagery becomes part of the architectural language.
The building is located near De Brouckère metro station and sits between Passage du Nord and Hotel Atlanta. The central location makes it easy to visit while walking through the old city center.
Two cat sculptures by artist Georges Houtstont adorn the upper gables and appear like playful guardians over the street. This feline decoration is unusual for Renaissance architecture and makes this structure a whimsical curiosity amid classicist formality.
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