There has been something truly remarkable happening in the Belgian capital over the past month. Many of the city’s historic buildings have opened their doors to a public eager to explore spaces they had never seen before. This initiative, part of the Brussels Art Nouveau and Art Deco event, took place in the year that was celebrated as the ‘Year of Art Deco’. The programme featured up to 60 venues across the city, including a dozen private homes, townhouses, institutional buildings, and former industrial sites.
A series of guided tours, led by professional experts, allowed visitors to delve into architectural details, restoration histories, and discover the original uses of each space. Many of these locations were so impeccably preserved that they seemed frozen in time. According to Amaury de Semt, Program & Communication Director of Explore.Brussels, the non-governmental body behind the event, “We sold 19,426 tickets, almost 100% of our entire availability.”
Beyond interior visits, the programme also included around 50 guided walking and cycling tours, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and inclusive activities tailored to different audiences. This annual festival, known as BANAD, was first established in 2017, building on earlier biennales dating back to 2001. It is dedicated to showcasing the best of Brussels’ architecture and promoting the protection and preservation of the city’s cultural heritage sites.
Art Deco and Art Nouveau
Brussels is widely considered one of the birthplaces of Art Nouveau, largely due to the work of pioneering architect Victor Horta (1861 – 1947). His innovative use of iron, glass, and organic forms defined the movement. However, the city also holds an exceptional concentration of Art Deco architecture, with approximately 500 venues. Many of these buildings remain remarkably well-preserved, making Brussels a reference point for scholars, historians, and architects who can study the evolution of these movements through original structures that have largely retained their authenticity over time.
The transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco can be traced across the city’s streets. Art Nouveau reached its peak around the turn of the century (1890s to 1910), then gradually moved toward a more geometric style, leading to the emergence of Art Deco. Architects slowly shifted away from flowing lines, floral motifs, and handcrafted details toward symmetry, abstraction, and industrial materials such as reinforced concrete. In many cases, hybrid buildings in Brussels combine elements of both styles.
Both the Brussels region and the City of Brussels municipality dedicate significant portions of their budgets to architectural preservation. In 2026, the regional heritage agency Urban.Brussels, which also participated in BANAD, announced a €56 million allocation to cover sustainable renovation and façade enhancement across the city. Additionally, the City of Brussels specifically allocated €5.6 million for town planning and heritage in its 2015 budget, which included grants for renovating façades in the pedestrian zone.
Introduction to Modernism
For BANAD, 2026 was historic as it marked the start of a new movement into the programme: Modernism. “This anniversary year, marking the tenth edition of the BANAD Festival, saw the introduction of a third architectural movement: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modernism; a development that has been very well received by our visitors,” said de Smet.
Modernism emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against decorative styles. It is characterized by functional design, clean lines, and new construction techniques, reflecting the broader social and technological changes of the time. In Brussels, modernist architecture often blended with Art Deco, creating hybrid forms: so minimalist exteriors contrast with richly decorated interiors. The movement also responded to urban expansion and housing needs, offering more standardized and efficient living spaces.
To create a more complete narrative of the city’s architectural history, BANAD showcased homes like Villa Berteaux and the Dotremont house, both designed by architect Louis-Herman De Koninck (1896–1984), who was known for his forward-thinking approach to domestic architecture and functional design principles.
As for Art Deco and Art Nouveau, visitors were able to see landmark properties such as Hôtel Solvay, Hôtel Tassel, and Hôtel Max Hallet, all masterpieces by Victor. Art Deco highlights included luxurious Villa Empain, and the Palais de la Folle Chanson, which reflects the stylistic transition of the interwar years. They also visited, for the first time, newly opened sites such as the Van Keirsbilck house, Villa Berteaux, the Slagmolder house, and the Fondation Universitaire.
