La Maison Autrique, a work by Horta not to be missed in Brussels
Updated January 7, 2023 by pierre
The Autric House: Horta, Schuiten and Peeters
In the essential series signed " Victor HortaMore“, the Maison Autrique is a place of passage for architecture enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the world of the well-known architect. Visit freely from the cellar to the attic, a particular scenography signed Schuiten and Peeters. Discover how Victor Horta designed a house for his friend Eugène Autrique: simplicity and efficiency.
Strolling through this beautiful house, you will experience real pleasure. Not only because it reveals to us the secrets of Art Nouveau according to Horta, but also because each room has been pleasantly furnished to make us feel the living conditions of the beginning of the 20th century in Brussels. Through the different rooms, discover how the architect wanted to participate in his time in improving living conditions. In short, a must of architectural museums not to be missed in Brussels
History of the Maison Autrique in Brussels
In 1893, Horta was 32 years old: after his internships with Alphonse Balat (Royal Greenhouses of Laeken), the construction of a few houses in Ghent and numerous projects, he received the order for a personal house from his friend Eugène Autrique, engineer and lecturer at the ULB. The program set by Autrique was simple:
"no luxury, no extravagance: habitable basement, honorable vestibule and staircase, pleasantly united living and dining room, first floor with bath and toilet (not yet common at the time) and second attic floor for children and staff" (V. Horta, Memoirs, p. 31).
The land chosen was located at 236 chaussée de Haecht (today no. 266), land that Victor Horta acquired at public sale in the name of Eugène Autrique. This will be the first mansion built by Victor Horta. We can already detect elements that will be the subject of continuous research by the architect: wall coverings of various thicknesses and materials, the outline of the skylight, not to mention the use of industrial metal left
apparent. The first landmark building by Victor Horta, the Maison Autrique is a major element of the architectural heritage of Brussels. Firstly because this 1893 house represents an essential step in the evolution of the greatest Belgian architect. Then because this building has undergone an exemplary restoration in many respects, helping to better understand the birth of Art Nouveau.
The Maison Autrique and its scenography Schuiten and Peeters
The scenography designed by Schuiten and Peeters makes this house a kind of “House of houses”, a tribute to private Brussels architecture at the same time as a gateway to the imagination. Staged from the cellar to the attic, the Maison Autrique underlines the historical and aesthetic interest of the houses of Brussels, revealing them in their seduction and in their mystery.
How to visit the Maison Autrique in Brussels?
The Maison Autrique is an essential visit for any lover of architecture and for any lover of the work of Victor Horta.
The Maison Autrique is open Wednesday to Sunday (except public holidays) from 12 p.m. to 18 p.m. (last admission at 17:30 p.m.).
Mandatory reservation via this link:
More information on the website of the Maison Autrique in Brussels
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