Wasn’t this building once a bustling hub of learning? Welcome to the Ancien athénée royal d’Ixelles a place steeped in history and echoing with the voices of generations past.
This impressive structure standing before you was built between 1883 and 1885. It wasn’t always here though. The initial plans placed it near a bustling market. The location proved unsuitable for educating children. The building was eventually constructed on its current site thanks to the initiative of Jules Bouillon a determined alderman for education. He championed official communal education. The school originally stood on a site bordered by Rue Jules Bouillon and Rue Jacquelaert. The latter street was renamed Rue de l’Athénée after the school’s completion.
The Ancien athénée royal d’Ixelles wasn’t just any school. It was a testament to the neoclassical architectural style so popular during Leopold II’s reign. The building’s design reflects that era’s desire for grandeur. Notice the simplicity of the facade. It embodies a restrained elegance rather than the opulent eclecticism found in other buildings of the time. The original plans show the building’s internal organization. It was divided into four distinct parts which were connected to a central courtyard. A grand staircase linked the different levels. The original glass structure was later replaced with a more modern iron structure. The gym was in the center with galleries for classrooms on either side.
But time marches on. By 1985 the Ancien athénée royal d’Ixelles no longer met population standards set by education reforms. Student numbers dwindled to a mere 242. The school faced closure. A ‘gentle death’ was agreed upon. Each year a school year was gradually dropped. This ensured students could finish their studies and teachers could be reassigned. The Ancien athénée royal d’Ixelles officially closed its doors on September 1st 1989. It merged with the Lycée royal d’Ixelles. Today a section of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Brussels occupies this remarkable building. The Ancien athénée royal d’Ixelles its story etched in stone stands as a reminder of the evolution of education. It represents the enduring legacy of learning and architectural innovation in Ixelles.