MAISON CAUCHIE

One of the things I love the most about Brussels is its Art Nouveau. The city is full of beautiful buildings but one of my personal favourites is Maison Cauchie. As the name implies, the house was designed and built by architect, painter and designer Paul Cauchie in 1905. Mr. Cauchie and his wife Lina, an art teacher who also contributed in the interior design, saw the house as a means to advertise their work. Being an art lover, I am always drawn to the spectacular facade of the Maison Cauchie. Whenever I find myself around the Cinquantenaire park, I always make a detour to admire all the great details of the graceful female figures depicted in the house’s front sgraffitto.

When Mr. Cauchie passed away in 1952, his wife carried out restoration works and removed some of the house’s decorative elements. Following her death, there were plans for the demolition of the building but luckily, a petition for the property to be listed saved it. Later on, in 1980 the house was purchased by its current owners who carried out enormous restoration works to bring it to its current state. When the plans to house the Tintin museum in the Maison Cauchie fell through, the first floor and cellar of the house were transformed into a gallery, which is now open to the public.

I have visited the Maison Cauchie twice during the Brussels Nocturnes. Pictures are not allowed inside, but the interior it’s just as special. The walls of the living room on the ground floor are decorated with beautiful engravings by Mr. Cauhie that transport you back to the times when he was around. Make sure you visit the Maison Cauchie when guided tours are offered (also available in English) to discover all the history and great details of this Art Nouveau jewel in Brussels!

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Address: Rue des Francs 5, 1040 Etterbeek, Belgium

Telephone: +32 2 6731506

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