Tucked away on a quiet avenue, a 19th-century architectural gem awaits your exploration.Victor Horta‘s Hôtel van Eetvelde is unlike any other building in Brussels. Its rotunda of shimmering stained glass and steel columns create a symphony of light that captivates visitors from the very first glance. Recently restored, the building blends history, aesthetics and modernity, with LAB-AN , a living laboratory dedicated to Art Nouveau.
Hôtel van Eetvelde – bewitching architecture, theater of light
TheHôtel van Eetvelde is more than just a building, it’s a timeless place. Built between 1895 and 1898, it embodies the creativity and audacity of Art Nouveau master Victor Horta. The centerpiece? An octagonal rotunda topped by a spectacular glass roof . This carefully restored dome of colored stained glass transforms every ray of sunlight into a living spectacle, bathing the winter garden in shimmering light. Decorative details, from furniture to mosaics, tell a story of elegance where every curve is designed to enchant. This remarkable building has beena UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, spreadingBrussels’ Art Nouveau throughout the world.
LAB-AN, the secret laboratory of Art Nouveau
But the Hôtel van Eetvelde doesn’t just shine with its past. Since 2023, LAB-AN, the Centre d’interprétation de l’Art nouveau, has been bringing this legendary address to life with a program of exhibitions, debates and workshops onArt Nouveau. This cultural laboratory invites visitors to question the complex relationship between aesthetics, history and society, particularly in relation to Art Nouveau. Open to the public on Mondays and weekends, this unique venue is accessible to all, including the visually impaired, thanks to specially adapted tactile tours. An immersive experience that breathes new life into this Brussels gem!
📍 Address – Avenue Palmerston 1, 1000 Brussels
🕒 O pening hours – Monday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.