Did you know that the Rue Général Capiaumont has a hero’s name? This Brussels street in Etterbeek honors General Alexis Adolphe Capiaumont. Let’s uncover its story.
Rue Général Capiaumont begins at the intersection of several streets. These are Rue de Theux Rue du Brochet Rue de Haerne and Rue Ernest Havaux. It ends at Avenue Victor Jacobs. Rue Philippe Baucq crosses it at a roundabout. The roundabout also marks the end of Rue du Grand Duc.
General Capiaumont distinguished himself in the army. He served the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1815 and 1830. Notably, he earned the Knight’s Cross 4th class. This was for his participation in the Battle of Waterloo.
Initially, he supported William I during the Belgian Revolution in 1830. However, he resigned to avoid fighting his fellow citizens. Later, he joined the new Belgian army.
Buildings on Rue Général Capiaumont display a unique architectural style. Many houses were built in the Art Nouveau style. This happened in the first two decades of the 20th century. The street features the typical Brussels house design. It has a seven-meter wide facade divided into unequal sections. There is a raised ground floor over a semi-buried cellar. Two floors with balconies sit above. A double-sloped roof houses a third floor or attic.
Inside, three rooms run in sequence corresponding to the main section. The staircase occupies the smaller section. It aligns with the front door. Most houses have two floors under the gutter. Semi-buried cellars elevate the ground floors. This creates the illusion of three stories.
Some houses share identical designs. Examples include numbers 15 21 and 23 and numbers 17 and 19. Also, numbers 38 and 40 share a plan.
Rue Général Capiaumont is part of a larger plan. It is part of the Solbosch district from 1903. The street has a consistent character. Two-thirds of the houses were built between 1903 and 1914. They are in an eclectic style. This style sometimes blends Art Nouveau elements.
Brick facades feature contrasting bands. These bands are made of brick and stone. Buildings generally have three levels over high cellars. They have two bays of unequal width. The main bay is emphasized or framed by pilasters. Arched or semi-circular windows feature polychrome bricks. Some windows are rectangular under steel beams.
Several houses were designed by architect Émile Loens. These include numbers 5 to 9, 74, 76, 78, and 100 to 108. Noteworthy buildings include numbers 38, 40, 44, 72, and 85. At number 88, ceramic panels display Art Nouveau motifs.
Most houses were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Exceptions are two buildings constructed in 1961 and 1972. Examples include numbers 12 and 51 to 59.
Today, Rue Général Capiaumont stands as a testament. It shows Brussels’ architectural heritage. It blends history, art and community. The street embodies the spirit of Etterbeek.