Brussels has a new must-see for fans of Art Nouveau architecture and decor, the Hôtel van Eetvelde, which has just opened for visitors after five months of restoration and preparation.
Built in the late 19th century, it is the work of Victor Horta, the leading Art Nouveau architect in Belgium, whose work parallels that of Gaudi in Spain and Hector Guimard in France. Among the building’s highlights is the huge glass dome of the winter garden, seen above.
The opening of the building coincides with the opening of LAB-AN, an institute to promote and interpret Art Nouveau. LAB-AN’s current exhibition focuses on the links between Art Nouveau and colonization, pointing out the exploitation of colonies in Africa as the source of the wealth for many projects.
The Hôtel van Eetvelde is a particular example; its owner was one of the Belgian rulers of the Congo, and the building is rich in design elements reflecting the Congo’s plants and resources, but of course not the cruelty of Belgium’s rule in the Congo.
