A hidden gem they call it. That’s Maison Pelgrims-Pelgrimshuis right before you. This isn’t just a building. It’s a story whispered through architectural styles.
Maison Pelgrims-Pelgrimshuis stands proudly on Rue de Parme. It began life in 1905. Architect Adolphe Pirenne designed it for the Colson family. It was a smaller villa then. Not the impressive structure you see today.
In 1927 pharmacist and industrialist Eugène Pelgrims bought it. He commissioned Fernand Petit to expand it. He added a breathtaking winter garden. It’s pure Art Deco elegance. A blue glass roof sits atop a concrete structure. Inside a fountain sparkles. It’s a mosaic of white blue and gold. The polished blue stone floor is inlaid with gold yellow and green marble. It’s a starburst pattern. Even the bathroom retains its mosaic tiles. Original features remain. The elegant oak staircase from 1905 remains a testament to the past. The house overlooks Parc Pierre Paulus. The Elsbeek river once flowed there. The park’s name honors expressionist painter Pierre Paulus de Châtelet.
The Commune de Saint-Gilles acquired Maison Pelgrims in 1963. The house needed major restoration. The park was overgrown. The stables were in ruins. Six years later the renovated park opened to the public. In 2001 Maison Pelgrims received protected status. The building blends several architectural styles. Italian Renaissance Flemish Neo-Renaissance Art Deco Romantic and Moorish elements are all present. The park itself is an English-style landscape garden. Gentle rolling lawns meet tall trees. A pond and faux Roman ruins complete the scene.
Today Maison Pelgrims-Pelgrimshuis houses the Saint-Gilles Culture Department. It’s a vibrant hub for art. It hosts exhibitions concerts and conferences. It’s a living testament to history. Its doors are open to all who appreciate art and culture. It’s more than a building. It’s a living museum. A celebration of history architecture and the enduring power of art.