Look inside
|
The House and Studio of Victor Horta
20 Years of Restauration
ISBN: 9789462303560
(HB - EN)
€
Victor Horta (1861-1947) is considered the most prominent Belgian architect of the Art Nouveau movement. His private house in Brussels, built in 1901, is a rare example of this architectural movement that enjoyed a flourishing albeit brief heyday at the turn of the previous century. In 1990, Barbara Van der Wee was given the challenging task of restoring the house - its original architectural concept having been compromised over the years due to innumerable renovations - and of transforming it into a house-museum. In this book, she tells the story of her encounter with the architecture of the house and the various ways in which she explored Horta's home as well as his work, thoughts, and dreams. Through this personal narrative and through the text of Françoise Aubry (the director of the museum for over 30 years) the reader learns how Horta evolved into a pioneering virtuoso of Art Nouveau. In addition, the reader comes to understand how, a century later, Van der Wee gradually and almost empirically developed her own philosophy and approach to restoring this extraordinary piece of architectural heritage in Brussels.
In partnership with the Horta Museum.
1. Unique description of the creation process of the lauded architect Victor Horta's private home in Brussels and of his subsequent alterations to the building.
2. Remarkable collection of original texts and photography about the house.
3. Full documentation of Barbara Van der Wee's exploration of the various building phases and process of determining the most suited phase for the restoration.
4. Describes and illustrates the full process of restoration during 20 years.
5. Original texts by Barbara Van Der Wee and by Françoise Aubry - Director of the Horta Museum for over 30 years - on the history of the building and the philosophy of the restoration.
|
