The iconic and historic façade of the renowned Hôtel Aubecq, designed by world-famous Belgian architect Victor Horta, is set to be reconstructed in a partnership between the Brussels-Capital Region and private developer Constructiv, announced Brussels State Secretary for Heritage, Ans Persoons, on Tuesday.
The Art Nouveau façade, with more than six hundred bricks currently stored in a depot in Neder-over-Heembeek, aims to inspire future construction artisans in architecture and renovation.
Hôtel Aubecq was a distinguished Brussels town house located on Avenue Louise, created by Victor Horta for lawyer and industrialist Octave Aubecq, one of the early influencers of the globally recognised cookware brand “Le Creuset.”
In 1950, Octave Aubecq’s son sold the 1899 building. During that time, Brussels was transitioning towards modernity, often replacing classic Art Nouveau buildings with more recent functional architecture.
The façade was carefully dismantled and preserved by a former associate of Victor Horta, who persuaded the overseeing minister to store the pieces in depots. Jean Delhaye (1908-1993), also a prominent defender of Horta’s work after his death in 1947, played a key role in safeguarding the façade.
Since its preservation, this cultural treasure has embarked on a 70-year journey through various Brussels depots and warehouses. Despite several plans to reconstruct the façade, such as establishing it as a corner house at Mont des Arts, opposite today’s Musical Instruments Museum, none materialised, leading to repeated relocations of the stones.
With this eighth relocation, there is finally hope. Constructiv, the Belgian sector fund for construction, is developing a new Construction and Heritage Training Centre within a real estate complex at Rue de Grand Bigard 500, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe. The excellence training centre will also be utilised by the Construcity.brussels Employment and Training Hub, which partners with Actiris, Brussels Formation, VDAB, Constructiv, Embuild, sfpme-efp, and Brussels Environment.
In this new setting, the façade will be restored to its former glory. By early July, the façade stones are expected to be moved from their current depot at urban.brussels in Neder-over-Heembeek to the future site. Initial reconstruction will take place in stages, with the stones first laid flat, ready to be showcased to the public by autumn.
The full or partial reassembly of the façade at the site will occur at a later date to be determined.
