Description
This building dates from the creation of Brussels’ central boulevards (1865–1880). It is located on a large plot of 22 m by 32 m. Behind a Haussmann-inspired façade, several dwelling types could originally be found. On the ground floor, three shops are connected to their first-floor accommodations by spiral staircases. On either side, two carriage doors open onto passageways leading to a courtyard. The entrances are found on these passageways, with two monumental staircases and two service stairs.
The third floor accommodates the most luxurious apartment, intended for a wealthy family, with the living areas and the master bedroom occupying the entire 400 m² floor. The upper floors have two dwellings per floor. The six-storey-high façade is richly decorated with white and blue limestone. The centre of the building features four columns supporting a continuous balcony with stone balustrades on the second floor. These columns continue through two levels. They are extended by pilasters bearing the cornice, surmounted by a balcony with an ironwork railing. The mansard roof and an imposing dormer window are topped by a sculpture representing Progress between Abundance and Peace. In the 1920s, the building was annexed to the Metropole Hotel.
Exterior view
Originally published in: Gérald Ledent, Alessandro Porotto, Brussels Housing. Atlas of Residential Building Types, Birkhäuser, 2023.