“Who was Fèlix Sterckx?” you might ask. The Rue Fèlix Sterckx honors a man who shaped this very neighborhood. Let’s delve into the story of this Brussels street and the man behind its name.
The Rue Fèlix Sterckx is not just any street. It connects Avenue Houba de Strooper with other key streets. These include Rue Ernest Salu, Rue Stuyvenbergh, and Rue du Cloître. It also intersects with the junction of Rues Reper-Vreven and Stevens-Delannoy. This street is part of a carefully planned area.
Back in the early 1900s, Brussels was expanding. A royal decree in 1902 and 1906 shaped this area. The Rue Fèlix Sterckx and other streets were designed with front gardens. These gardens created a symmetrical star pattern around Avenue Houba de Strooper.
But who was Fèlix Sterckx? He was a surveyor and an expert in geometry. From 1896 to 1900, he served as a municipal councilor in Laeken. The street’s name pays tribute to his contributions to the community.
Construction on Rue Fèlix Sterckx boomed between 1905 and 1914. The houses built were mainly in the eclectic style. The municipality organized facade competitions. Seven houses on the even-numbered side won awards. Number 12 won in 1914. Numbers 14, 16, and 24 to 30 won between 1911 and 1913.
Architects like Fernand Brunfaut, Al. Dewez, and Henri Neefs designed these award-winning homes. Later, during the interwar period, more houses were built. These included eclectic styles and influences from Beaux-Arts and Art Deco. Number 54 shows an eclectic style. Number 39 has a Beaux-Arts influence. Numbers 4, 6, 8, and 10 show Art Deco elements.
Architects A. Nagel, J. Jacqmin, G. Rosenberg, and Louis Tenaerts contributed to the street’s diverse architecture. Notably, architect J. Van Camp designed a large group of fifteen houses. These stand at the end of the street. They were built in 1923 for a single owner. After the war, some modernist buildings appeared. Number 50 was built in 1963.
The Rue Fèlix Sterckx also houses two schools: the Athénée Émile Bockstael and the Institut Maris Stella. Number 38 is a detached villa. It has a picturesque design from 1910. It was renovated several times and was once part of the Institut Maris Stella complex. The house at number 4 shows an Art Deco style. It features asymmetrical composition. The facade uses orange bricks and blue stone. A garage sits in the basement. Above, an oriel window spans two levels. The entrance has pilasters and a cornice-awning. The windows have brick lintels.
As you walk along Rue Fèlix Sterckx, observe the mix of architectural styles. From eclectic beginnings to Art Deco and modernist additions, each building tells a story. Consider the vision of Fèlix Sterckx. He helped shape this community. He helped create a desirable neighborhood of Brussels.