Hôtel Solvay, Brussels, Belgium

The Hôtel Solvay is a large Art Nouveau town house designed by Victor Horta on the Avenue Louise in Brussels. The house was commissioned by Armand Solvay, the son of the wealthy Belgian chemist and industrialist Ernest Solvay. For this wealthy patron Horta could spend a fortune on precious materials and expensive details. Horta designed every single detail; furniture, carpets, light fittings, tableware and even the door bell. He used expensive materials such as marble, onyx, bronze, tropic woods etc. For the decoration of the staircase Horta cooperated with the Belgian pointillist painter Théo van Rysselberghe. The Hôtel Solvay and most of its splendid content remained intact thanks to the Wittamer family. They acquired the house in the 1950s and did the utmost to preserve and restore this magnificent dwelling. The house is still private property and can only be visited by appointment and under very strict conditions. The edifice is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The UNESCO commission recognized the Hôtel Solvay as UNESCO World Heritage in 2000 as one of the Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Nicky Gist (4 months ago)
Finally made it having booked to visit Hotel Solvay with the Nouveau Art Pass (not a straightforward procedure) and required a second visit to Brussels - thank you Eurostar deal. Lovely staff understandably anxious about preserving the splendour of the place but a bit chaotic in explaining initial rules and I did not understand why we could only take photos in the last 10 minutes. Please be aware a tour which is more expensive allows visitors to see more of the property and under the Art Pass it is a guideless visit. Otherwise it was fantastic and thank you staff.

Valeria Zecchini (6 months ago)
The house is cool but the caretakers are just awful. They make you feel like a criminal and are SO nervous about everything. I understand this is a precious historical house but it is not wholly made of glass…

Alexandre Hauben (11 months ago)
TRUE GEM. MUST VISIT. Exceptional architectural masterpiece by Horta! Maison Horta in Brussels is a harmonious blend of elegance and innovation. The intricate Art Nouveau details and thoughtfully designed spaces make for a unique and memorable visit. Impeccable service and a true gem for those seeking a cultural and historical experience in the heart of Brussels. #BrusselsExperience #ExploreBrussels #VisitBelgium #BrusselsAdventures #DiscoverBrussels #CityBreak #CulturalCapital #TravelBelgium #BrusselsSights #HistoricCity #EuroTrip #TravelInspiration #BelgiumTourism #BrusselsLandmarks #ArtNouveau #UrbanExploration #BrusselsVibes #TravelTips #LocalFlavors

Vahagn Israyelyan (13 months ago)
Absolute masterpiece and a must-visit place if you're in Brussels. A lot of visitors and taking photos is allowed only 10 minutes before the tour ends( it's 40 minutes overall ). Make sure to reserve a visit on the website.

Jean vR (4 years ago)
Beautiful house with amazing interiors designed by Horta. This house was asked by the Solvay family to Horta with no budget limit, and it shows. Structure and pleasure mix together in perfect shapes and natural feeling environments.

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