Brussels

Inside Art nouveau

Maison Les Hiboux

Avenue Brugmann 55, 1060 Saint-Gilles, Belgium

Façade (photo ca 1902), Architektur der freien neuen Schule, 1902, pl.63.

Façade (photo ca 1902), Architektur der freien neuen Schule, 1902, pl.63.

Sgraffito decoration and stained glass window, first floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffito decoration and stained glass window, first floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffitto decoration, second floor, façade (photo ca 1990),  photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffitto decoration, second floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Façade (photo ca 1902), Architektur der freien neuen Schule, 1902, pl.63.

Façade (photo ca 1902), Architektur der freien neuen Schule, 1902, pl.63.

Sgraffito decoration and stained glass window, first floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffito decoration and stained glass window, first floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffitto decoration, second floor, façade (photo ca 1990),  photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Sgraffitto decoration, second floor, façade (photo ca 1990), photo Bastin-Evrard ©urban.brussels. All rights reserved.

Maison Les Hiboux

This house is commonly referred to as “Les Hiboux” (The Owls) because of the sculptures depicting these nocturnal birds sitting on top of the building, and their presence on the fanlight sgraffito.

EXTERIOR

The building is part of an ensemble of Art Nouveau houses created by several architects at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and located on the same block. It is a red brick structure embellished with white stone, on a blue stone base. This façade exudes Art Nouveau elegance, whether it be displayed in the plinth course, which is made of blue stone, the delicate ironwork or the curves that feature prominently in the woodwork (even though what can be seen today is a fairly poor copy of the original).

Do not miss the magnificent sgraffito that decorates the fanlight and the sculpted pinnacles depicting… owls.

INTERIOR

Research on this subject is currently in progress.

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