Description

This mansion, built for the scientist and professor Emile Tassel, synthesises Victor Horta’s various innovations. Set on a plot of 8 m by 27 m, its plan features a radical shift from the traditional row houses that accommodate three rooms in a row. Here, the dwelling consists of two main volumes with a double skylight in between. The two buildings are connected by walkways on the upper floors. The building on the street side houses the reception and work rooms, while that at the rear accommodates more intimate functions and domestic service. This part also has a service staircase. The whole plan is organised around a central axis, leading from the front door to the centre of the rear bay of the house. All the spaces are richly decorated with built-in furniture, stained glass, wall decorations, lighting, and furniture designed by Horta and various artists. The façade of the building is integrated into a residential street, with houses mostly built in the 19th century. This four-storey elevation is made of white stone with some blue-limestone elements. The façade is marked by a central two-storey bow-window above the entrance door. The bow window apertures become increasingly large as the floors go up, while the bays on either side become smaller. The treatment of the stonework and ironwork is particularly elaborate, with typical Art Nouveau motifs.S

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Originally published in: Gérald Ledent, Alessandro Porotto, Brussels Housing. Atlas of Residential Building Types, Birkhäuser, 2023.