House-workshop
History
Dates noted in Victor Horta’s diaries
1898 14 August : application for planning permission submitted to the Commune of Saint-Gilles (granted 28 September)
December: plans
1899January: balcony
February: balcony, white stone and canopy ordered
April: first floor drawings
May: dining room plans and cross-sections
June: stonework details
July: staircase
August: plumbing, gas and central heating plans
September: marble staircase
October: blue stone for pavement ordered
December: dining room re-grouting
1900 February: grilles drawings
May: dining room windows drawings; shutters ordered
June: bells templates
1901 March: office set up; sculpture studio fully functioning
1902 dining room doors
Dates of alterations
1906 House extended in the direction of the garden: salon,first floor, second floor (balcony and winter garden). Planning permission sought 15 May; granted 19 October
1907 Studio cellar enlarged with a view to improving the light and ventilation
Planning permission sought 24 December; granted 14 January 1908
1908 Studio enlarged
Planning permission sought 14 January
1911 Alteration of part of the ground floor from studio to garage
1915-19 Horta in England and the United States
1919 Horta sells the two houses and settles in avenue Louise
1961 House purchased by the Commune de Saint-Gilles
1963 House and studio ‘listed’ by Royal Decree
1969 Museum opened to the public
1973 Studio purchased by the Commune of Saint-Gilles; the two buildings are connected again
Restoration
1987 Reconstruction of the layout of the garden by the architect Jean Delhaye
1990 Reinforcement of the main staircase
1993 Restoration of the studio grille
1994 Restoration of the roofs and the rear façades
1995-6 Restoration of the ground floor and the studio cellar
1997 Laying of a new pavement in blue stone in front of the Museum and the studio; restoration of the wall decorations
1998-9 Creation of reception areas on the ground floor and in the studio cellar
2000 Installation of the spiral staircase from the Maison du Peuple in the studio cellar
2001 Wall hangings installed in the bel-étage salons and stairwell
2002 Restoration of Simone’s room on the second floor; restoration of Horta’s office and waiting room
2004 Restoration of the bathroom on the first floor; replacement of all the ‘modern’ radiators with antique cast-iron models
2006 From 1969 to 1977 the first floor of the Museum was occupied by the Order of Architects. In 2006 the entire restoration concluded with, amongst other things, the hanging of William Morris wallpaper, reprinted by hand, and with watered-silk wall hangings.
2009-10 Removal of the lift installed in the sixties and reconstruction of the servants’ staircase; restoration of the cellar kitchen
Plans
© Barbara Van der Wee Architects Studio for Architecture & Conservation