Building
Ch. Bastin & J. Evrard © urban.brussels
Stairwell (photo ca 1990)
Stairwell (photo ca 1990)
Architecture & Décoration, 1903, pl.16
Façade (photo ca 1903)
Façade (photo ca 1903)
This elegant mansion resulted from the combined talents of the architect Octave Van Rysselberghe and the artist and art theorist Henry Van de Velde, who primarily designed its interior layout.
The mansion is also worth visiting because of the personality of the person who commissioned it; Paul Otlet was a doctor of law, socialist campaigner, visionary and pacifist. A tireless worker, he spent his fortune on a model for the classification of his archives that is now considered to be a precursor of the Internet.
Standing at the corner of the street, one can admire the asymmetrical façade; it has a hectic appearance, with its interplay of recessed and protruding elements. This movement reflects the diversity of the interior spaces and their layout.
The French stone façade is crowned with a sgraffito below the cornice, featuring a motif of shells and arabesques.
The porch in the main entrance on the rue Florence shelters a door decorated with a beautiful handle displaying whiplash lines. It is surmounted by an imposing stained glass window representative of Van de Velde’s fluid lines.
The interior is organised around an enormous central space lit by daylight streaming through a glass roof. It contains the main stairwell, which provides access to the different rooms. The landings are separated by glass walls, which introduce additional light into this central area.
Some of the original decoration still remains in the mansion, such as the mosaic floor and several stained glass windows. One can imagine that it was originally more strongly stamped with Van de Velde’s style, and perhaps papered with the wallpaper that he imported from England.
The building is currently occupied by a firm of lawyers and can be visited during certain specific events.
Nearby
The mansion is also worth visiting because of the personality of the person who commissioned it; Paul Otlet was a doctor of law, socialist campaigner, visionary and pacifist. A tireless worker, he spent his fortune on a model for the classification of his archives that is now considered to be a precursor of the Internet.
Standing at the corner of the street, one can admire the asymmetrical façade; it has a hectic appearance, with its interplay of recessed and protruding elements. This movement reflects the diversity of the interior spaces and their layout.
The French stone façade is crowned with a sgraffito below the cornice, featuring a motif of shells and arabesques.
The porch in the main entrance on the rue Florence shelters a door decorated with a beautiful handle displaying whiplash lines. It is surmounted by an imposing stained glass window representative of Van de Velde’s fluid lines.
The interior is organised around an enormous central space lit by daylight streaming through a glass roof. It contains the main stairwell, which provides access to the different rooms. The landings are separated by glass walls, which introduce additional light into this central area.
Some of the original decoration still remains in the mansion, such as the mosaic floor and several stained glass windows. One can imagine that it was originally more strongly stamped with Van de Velde’s style, and perhaps papered with the wallpaper that he imported from England.
The building is currently occupied by a firm of lawyers and can be visited during certain specific events.
Standing at the corner of the street, one can admire the asymmetrical façade; it has a hectic appearance, with its interplay of recessed and protruding elements. This movement reflects the diversity of the interior spaces and their layout.
The French stone façade is crowned with a sgraffito below the cornice, featuring a motif of shells and arabesques.
The porch in the main entrance on the rue Florence shelters a door decorated with a beautiful handle displaying whiplash lines. It is surmounted by an imposing stained glass window representative of Van de Velde’s fluid lines.
The interior is organised around an enormous central space lit by daylight streaming through a glass roof. It contains the main stairwell, which provides access to the different rooms. The landings are separated by glass walls, which introduce additional light into this central area.
Some of the original decoration still remains in the mansion, such as the mosaic floor and several stained glass windows. One can imagine that it was originally more strongly stamped with Van de Velde’s style, and perhaps papered with the wallpaper that he imported from England.
The building is currently occupied by a firm of lawyers and can be visited during certain specific events.
