The Art Nouveau Movement

With its flora motifs and natural reminiscences, the Art Nouveau movement
"flourished" in Europe between 1890 and 1910. The Art Nouveau movement took
advantage of the advances in steel architecture but refined its decor, representing
elements of nature with both an ornamental as well as functional character. The
finest exponent of Art Nouveau in Belgium was Victor Horta, who developed several
buildings in this style in Brussels, as well as other masters such as Henry van de
Velde and Paul Hankar.

VICTOR HORTA
Victor Horta was an early Art Nouveau architect. Horta is often regarded as one of
the early forerunners of the Art Nouveau movement in modern architecture. Horta
participated and won many design competitions. Won prize for his design of a new
parliament building. Horta was an early pioneer in the Art Nouveau movement. Art
Nouveau, or “New Art”, was a style that was developed in parts of Europe and the
United States. This style emphasized curvilinear lines, organic shapes, botanical
influences, and “whiplash” curves. Art Nouveau permeated all types of art forms
from architecture, to graphic design, to painting.

Horta, like many other Art Nouveau artists, frequently utilized plant-like forms in his
architectural designs. Some of his most representative designs include that of Hotel
Tassel and Hotel Solvay. Both of these works are characterized by intricate wrought
iron work on the exteriors and interiors, the adherence to an open plan, and the
emphasis on organic and natural forms. These themes led to the revolutionary
development of modern architecture because Horta was one of the few architects of
his time to be using iron in a domestic setting.

HOTEL TASSEL
Hotel Tassel was a townhouse located in Brussels, Belgium that Horta designed in
1893. A closer examination of the interior of Hotel Tassel shows many Art Nouveau
influences. The Tassel House was based on traditional style of building in Brussels. A
Building set between two others, very Narrow, with only two short facades on to
the street and garden. The main facade does not stand out much from those on
either side. The other sides stand out with the stone facade and the metal railings. A
large bay window extending over two stories, dominates the front facades. While the
entrance is shaded by the classical overhanging lintel with enormous brackets.

The facade also includes classical elements like mouldings and columns but some
columns are of iron. The house consisted of three different parts. Two rather
conventional buildings in brick and natural stone, one on the side of the street and
one on the side of the garden which were linked by a steel structure covered with
glass. It functions as the connective part in the spatial composition of the house and
contains staircases and landings that connect the different rooms and floors.
Through the glass roof it functions as a light shaft that brings natural light into the
centre of the building it could also be used for receiving guests.

Horta made the maximum of his skills as an interior designer. He designed every
single detail; door handles, woodwork, panels and windows in stained
glass, mosaic flooring and the furnishing. As seen in Figure the railing of the
staircase shows many curvilinear forms made of wrought iron. Curvilinear tendrils
flow along columns and balustrades, complemented by delicate wall decorations and
floor mosaics. In addition, the illustrations on the wall also show the “whiplash”forms.
The use of innovative materials and techniques in Horta’s use of electricity in Hotel
Tassel were also very forward thinking of his time. Horta also introduced elements
of Gothic Architecture as well as Rococo decorations. Electricity and wrought iron
are just two instances of Horta’s widespread use of industrial materials in domestic
applications.

The Hotel Tassel which houses prestigious offices today, is considered as the key
building for Architecture history, initiating work of Art Nouveau.

HORTA MUSEUM

Built between 1889 and 1901, the Horta Museum was the family home and Horta’s
workshop for 20 years. The outside of the museum seems to be two separate buildings, but
inside it is one seamless dwelling. Combining two buildings as one, Horta liberated his
dwelling from distinct floors by using the spectacular spiral staircase to ascend through the
house gradually. The main staircase takes pride of place at the centre of the house and as
a feature of the open plan rooms it connects. It is not just a functional set of steps; it is the
house’s centre piece with embracing and glorifying the structure of the house and
completed with decadent banisters, beautiful light fittings and gold-touched walls.

At the top of the staircase, you will find the glass roof, along with the quasi open-plan layout,
which is responsible for the soft light and impressive feeling of space throughout the house.
We can pause here and enjoy the view of the spiral staircase from above and the opposing
mirrors that stretch Horta’s designs into infinity. The design and decoration of the staircase
epitomize Horta’s influence on the Art Nouveau movement

. The interior decoration has largely been retained, the mosaics, stained glass, and
wall decorations forming a harmonious and elegant whole, down to the last detail.
Horta created a variety of perspectives and sought to allow light to circulate. He
simplifies supporting structures through the metal arches, tie beams and girders.
It would ruin the surprise to describe the building Horta called home in too much detail, but
as you tiptoe around the house to a soundtrack of creaking floorboards and impressed
whispers, admire how he brought nature into everything he designed, from the mosaic-tiled
floors to the shapes of the door handles and even the minute details.

In the interiors there is a permanent display of furniture, utensils and art objects
designed by Horta and his contemporaries as well as documents related to his life
and time.
The Horta Museum aptly describes, a work of “human creative genius, representing the
highest expression of the influential Art Nouveau style in art and architecture.”