Picture this: a house that dared to be different. Maison Hankar stands before us a testament to architectural innovation. It is one of Brussels’ first Art Nouveau buildings. The Hankar House embodies a pivotal moment in architectural history.
Paul Hankar designed this house for himself in 1893. It is located on Rue Defacqz in Saint-Gilles. This was a wealthy Brussels neighborhood. It was near Avenue Louise.
Before creating Maison Hankar, Paul Hankar worked for Henri Beyaert. Beyaert was a master of eclectic and neoclassical architecture. Hankar admired Eugène Viollet-le-Duc through Beyaert. Viollet-le-Duc championed new materials like iron and glass. He found inspiration in historical architecture.
Maison Hankar sharply contrasted its surroundings. The neighboring buildings mainly featured Beaux-Arts and neoclassical styles. These had symmetrical designs and used brick or stone. Hankar’s design, however, embraced asymmetry. It expressed the interior’s functions on its facade.
The eastern third of Hankar House contains the entrance and stairs. It is offset by a half-story from the western two-thirds. This section holds the public rooms. A three-story box-bay projects outward. It is supported by stone corbels. It brings ample light to the rooms on the second and third floors. A balcony graces the fourth floor.
Notice the bow window on the ground floor. It marks the living room. Small windows above the entrance indicate the staircase. The large bay window on the upper floor reveals the artist’s workshop. Hankar used curving iron columns to support the overhanging roof. Stone columns support the balconies. These give the house a strong vertical presence.
Hankar collaborated with artists to add decorative touches. René Janssens, a sculptor, and Albert Ciamberlani, a painter, contributed. They adorned the facade with sgraffito. This technique involves layering tinted plaster onto a moistened surface. It was popular in Renaissance Italy. The facade and balconies display wrought iron railings. These feature stylized floral patterns and curling lines. This became an important feature of Art Nouveau.
Different shades and colors of brick and stone add variety to the facade of Maison Hankar. Adolphe Crespin, a friend of Hankar, created mural panels. These appear under the windows and in an arcaded frieze. The interplay of heavy neo-Renaissance elements and light Art Nouveau details creates a vivid composition.
Following this design, Hankar built houses for his artist friends. These included Janssens, Ciamberlani, and Philippe Wolfers. Wolfers was a designer, silversmith, and jeweler. He also built for the painter Léon Bartholomé. Hector Guimard, a French architect, drew the facade in 1895.
Maison Hankar stands as a remarkable example of Art Nouveau. It showcases Hankar’s innovative spirit. It blends historical influences with modern ideas. The building was classified in May 1975. As we move on, remember Maison Hankar. It embodies artistic courage and architectural revolution.