Art Nouveau

At the turn of the century, Brussels was a lively place, receptive to new ideas, with a wealthy bourgeoisie that was happy to finance new constructions. More than 1,000 buildings were built in the Art Nouveau style at the time, of which around 500 still exist in Brussels.

Art Nouveau is the name given to a style of architecture and design that flourished in several European cities at the turn of the 19th century. Buildings were designed using materials traditionally associated with industrial construction: iron, exposed brick and glass. The style is easy to recognise, with its wide, flattened arches, floral motifs and female silhouettes, and predominance of stained glass and polished wood.