More than four years after a fire damaged the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels, along with its concert organ, restoration work will begin this summer, with completion expected by summer 2028, the arts centre announced on Wednesday.
The fire broke out on the roof of the Bozar on 18 January 2021, severely damaging the exhibition rooms and the roof of the Henry Le Bœuf Hall, designed by Victor Horta, while extinguishing efforts also inflicted significant damage on the organ.
Now, after four and a half years, restoration work is set to commence with the aim of preserving and restoring the historical façade of the organ, integrating some elements according to the original plans by Art Nouveau founder Horta. The organ will be completely rebuilt and replaced, with costs estimated at €2 million.
In April, the contract was awarded to Austrian organ builder Rieger, which described the project as both an “honour and a stimulus.” The company stated that the new organ will excel in versatility and bridge tradition with modernity.
This 2021 fire is not the first time the organ suffered damage; it was partially damaged in a fire in 1967. Restoration began in 1993, taking 24 years, only for Bozar to face another setback four years later.
Despite the ongoing restoration, organ music will continue at Bozar through a fibre-optic connection with Brussels Cathedral. “Organists can play the cathedral organ live while the sound is transmitted in real time to the Henry Le Bœuf Hall,” explains Andries Bomans of Bozar. The first concert using this technology is scheduled for 8 March 2026, marking Bozar as the first Belgian concert hall to facilitate organ music via a digital link.
