At the end of the 19th century, the Belgian architect Victor Horta (1861-1947) was one of the early pioneers of the stylistic revolution of Art Nouveau, characterised by open floor plans, the guidance of light through the building structure and the brilliant combination of curved decorative lines with the supporting structures of the buildings. Steel and glass were used as new building materials. Through the rational use of metal structures, sometimes openly visible, sometimes cleverly concealed, Horta created living areas flooded with light and air, directly adapted to the personality and needs of their inhabitants. The imaginative interiors are characterised by decorative motifs that flow seamlessly from the mosaic floors to the wall paintings, and also by decorative elements made of wrought iron and custom-made pieces of furniture. Four of the Brussels townhouses designed by Victor Horta were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000. They take up the traditions of upper middle-class townhouses and stately private villas and combine residential and representative functions, which require a skilful organisation of the various areas of use and their access. For this purpose, Horta used the two-part building type, whose two parts are connected by a glass-roofed circulation area that can be used as a winter garden. Above all, nature was an important source of inspiration for Art Nouveau, as the generous use of plant and flower motifs and the many depictions of birds show. In 1893, Victor Horta completed the 'Tassel House' designed for Émile Tassel. 130 years later, Brussels calls itself 'Capital of Art Nouveau' and dedicates a diverse cultural programme to this anniversary. The coin shows a detail of the façade of the house built in 1895 for Baron Edmond van Eetvelde, an asymmetrical wall decoration above the Beletage designed by Victor Horta. |
