Palais Stoclet could be forced to open to public

A draft ordinance from Brussels secretary of state Ans Persoons (Vooruit) would force the opening of the Palais Stoclet to the public.

Palais Stoclet, in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, is listed as a world heritage site but belongs to the Stoclet family and remains closed to the public year round, despite efforts from various regional authorities over the years to have it open to visitors on occasion.

Designed by Austrian architect Josef Hoffman, Palais Stoclet is considered one of the Belgian capital's architectural gems. Hoffman built the avant-garde palace for his friend, Belgian financier Adolphe Stoclet.

Construction of the unique mansion began in 1905 and was completed in 1911, but while some have been able to tour the estate in recent years, the site is generally closed to the public.

“When Pascal Smet was secretary of state, we were already looking into the matter,” said Persoons.

“We managed to get jewels such as the Maison Cauchie, the Hôtel Van Eetvelde and the Hôtel Solvay opened, even temporarily, but nothing was possible for the Palais Stoclet.”

Persoons’ draft ordinance, which will be discussed in the coming weeks, aims to make it mandatory for the Palais Stoclet’s owners to open the site to the public a few days per year.

“It's a special ordinance designed to protect all Unesco world heritage sites,” Persoons explained, adding that there was government support for the measure.

But the Stoclet family has not had good relations with the regional government over the years. They objected to even a video reconstruction of the palace’s interior based on information from public archives for an exhibition honouring the architect.

“Contrary to what parties are trying to make people believe, while it is undoubtedly a masterpiece containing numerous objects of great artistic value, it is not a museum but first and foremost a family residence and a showcase for memories,” a statement from the family’s lawyer said at the time.

“In other words, although of undeniable artistic interest, the palace is first and foremost an element of a family's intimacy – an exceptional element, to be sure, but one that does not change its nature.

"The Stoclet family is opening it up to the public and the state as much as possible, to the extent that is necessary to avoid losing its character as a historic family home."

Woluwe-Saint-Pierre’s mayor Benoît Cerexhe was annoyed by the objection of the video recreation.

“What nerve to bring this legal action to prevent the broadcasting of a video on the contents of the building,” he said at the time.

“[They] receive public money, but [they] want to prevent any sharing, even virtual, with the general public.”

The heirs to the palace also fought a bitter legal battle against the motion to designate the mansion as a Unesco world heritage site.

Photo: PtrQs/Wikimedia. Licensed under Creative Commons