Fascinating, isn’t it, how a seemingly quiet street like Rue André Fauchille can hold echoes of profound stories? This unassuming road in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre bears the name of André Fauchille. He was the landowner who developed this area.
Rue André Fauchille quietly connects Avenue de Tervueren with the intersection of Rue du Collège Saint-Michel. From there, Rue Maurice Liétard extends it further. The street’s layout was approved in 1896. This was related to the construction of Avenue de Tervueren.
As you look around Rue André Fauchille, notice the mix of buildings. There is a mix of houses and apartment buildings. The street’s architecture reflects two main construction periods. The first was between 1900 and 1925. The second occurred in the 1950s. During this time, the street was completed.
Eclecticism and Beaux-Arts styles dominated the street’s early architecture. Some buildings still show these styles. Numbers 7, 8, 11, 14, and 15 retain their original features. Other buildings were heavily remodeled in the 1920s. Only a few facade elements hint at their original style. Number 9 is a good example. This bourgeois house was built in 1909. The architect De Lestrée de Fabribeckers designed it. Today, it includes a garage from 1953. The rear facade was transformed in 1994. Architect Pierre Blondel redesigned it. Originally, the front facade had Beaux-Arts decorations. You can still see it in the main section.
The street’s character changed significantly in the early 1950s. Existing buildings were altered. In 1947, at number 5, architect A. Cornut replaced a house from 1912. It was originally the studio of painter Joseph Venderveken. In 1950, architect J. Van Hall heightened the facade. This facade belonged to the former Gatti de Gamond boarding school at number 10. He also transformed the building deeper into the lot. The impressive sgraffito frieze disappeared at that time. At number 3A, in 1953, architect René Coppens replaced a garage.
Apartment buildings were constructed on empty plots. The first of these, number 17, dates from 1951. It stands on the corner of Rue du Collège Saint-Michel. In 1953 and 1954, apartment buildings of five to seven floors were erected. They featured white stone cladding. These buildings were placed on the corners formed by the street. Number 1 was designed by architect Jean De Ligne. Numbers 1a and 1b were designed by architect Franz Mertens. Numbers 2 and 2a were constructed by architect J. Van Hall. At number 4, a small apartment building of yellow bricks was designed in 1953. Architect J. Lambermont created it.
The last building was constructed in 1962 at number 3. Architect M. Dorselaer designed it.
Rue André Fauchille also carries a heavy history. In 1943, the Gestapo raided the Gatti de Gamond boarding school. This school hid Jewish students. Many were arrested. Sadly, most were later killed. In 2018, fifteen stumbling stones were placed in front of the former school. These stones commemorate the victims. The school was badly damaged during the war. Later, it was replaced by a residential building. These stones serve as a reminder. They ensure that these individuals are never forgotten. Each stone bears the name of a victim. It lists their birthdate, and death. They are a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II.
So, as you walk along Rue André Fauchille, remember its layers of history. It is a story of urban development. It is also a story of resilience. Finally, it is a story of remembrance. It is a place where the past whispers to those who take the time to listen.