Horta masterpiece Hôtel Solvay in Avenue Louise finally shows off its restored facade

The facade of Brussels Art Nouveau treasure the Hôtel Solvay has finally been unveiled following  two years of renovation work.

Scaffolding had shielded the Avenue Louise architectural masterpiece from public gaze since 2022, reports RTBF.

A major renovation project was launched after the owners of the Victor Horta designed mansion spotted advanced corrosion on the gallery above the entrance door in 2019.

Having been classified as a Unesco world heritage site in 2000, a restoration campaign was launched under the supervision of Urban.brussels.

Repair work was carried out on the roof as well as the metalwork and artistic ironwork of the facade, explained architect Barbara Van der Wee. The exterior wooden joinery, stained glass windows and natural stone were also restored, while the lead cladding on the balconies was renovated. Metalwork was repainted in its original colours.

With more than €1.5 million in regional subsidies, the project was largely financed by the Brussels Region released. The Hôtel Solvay was eligible for subsidies amounting to 80% of the cost of the work as it is a museum open to the public.

A house that exemplifies the history of Brussels architecture

Horta built the townhouse at the end of the 19th century for the rich industrialist Armand Solvay and his wife, Fanny Hunter. Working with a near unlimited budget and considerable input from the owners, Horta incorporated all of his innovations in architecture – a utilitarian use of light, free-flowing spaces – with the use of steel, a relatively new material at the time, for both structure and aesthetics.

He combined this with the richly organic embellishments for which the Art Nouveau movement is famous. Domes of stained-glass, stacked bay windows, glazed oak doors, wrought-iron parapets, are just some of its outstanding features.

But Art Nouveau fell out of fashion in the postwar period. After the Solvay family decided to sell it and no buyer could be found, Brussels authorities nearly tore it down in the 1950s. Experts advised against the region taking it on due to the high cost of restoration.

Louis Wittamer and Berthe De Camps stepped in to save it in 1957. The couple were not only Art Nouveau fans, but also fashion designers who used the home as a studio. They also set to work preserving it, a job that has passed down to their children and grandchildren.

On show to the public

The Hôtel Solvay has continued to welcome visitors throughout the works, recording nearly 100,000 entries since its opening to the general public in 2021.

"This opening is an incredible success which demonstrates that heritage still makes people dream," said the state secretary for urban planning and heritage Ans Persoons at the official unveiling of the facade.

Brussels mayor Philippe Close commented: "Today, after two years of meticulous restoration work, the listed facade has regained all its original splendour thanks to the work of craftsmen, heritage experts and the support of Urban. brussels. Much more than stones, the Hôtel Solvay is a living showcase that tells the story of Brussels and now fully contributes to the tourist appeal of our Region."

Photos: ©cabinet Ans Persoons