Didn’t General Fivé leave his mark on this very street? Rue Général Fivé, or Generaal Fivéstraat in Dutch, connects Chaussée de Wavre to Avenue Hansen-Soulie. It’s more than just a street. It’s a journey through time.
Rue Général Fivé owes its name to an officer of the Independent State of Congo. He lived from 1849 to 1909. The section alongside the garden city houses of the Foyer Etterbeekois has borne this name since 1923. The extension towards Chaussée de Wavre occurred in the 1930s. This resulted in demolishing several houses. These included those belonging to the Busscher block. They stood at the junction with Chaussée de Wavre. The two sections between Rue Baron Dhanis and Avenue Hansen-Soulie opened to traffic in 1951.
Look around. Notice the buildings. Rue Général Fivé features commercial and apartment buildings. Some date back to the 1930s. Others are from the 1950s. The latter are mainly in the two final sections. The interwar constructions showcase Art Deco or modernist styles. Numbers 7, 9, and 28 exemplify this. Number 7 was built in 1934. Jacques De Coster designed number 9 in 1935. C. P. Meskens designed number 28 in 1935. These buildings present a double structure. They have three bays over four levels. Columns of bow windows flank the stairwell.
Numbers 23, 25, 30, and 32 share a similar facade. C. P. Meskens designed them all. They feature beige bricks. They have four levels and two bays. The main bay features a continuous bow window. The entrance bay has balconies. Meskens also designed numbers 4, 11, and 13. Jean Finné designed numbers 6, 8, 12, 21, and 26.
Between numbers 16-18 and 20-22, you’ll spot the entrance to the Fontenay-sous-Bois gardens. At number 36a stands a building set back from the street. It has lowered bays and dates back to around 1900. Currently, the Lutgardisschool occupies it. It once formed part of the Saint-Joseph orphanage. The final section on the odd-numbered side houses the Athénée royal Jean Absil. Henri Jacobs designed it in 1960.
Rue Général Fivé is a tapestry of architectural styles and historical layers. Each building tells a story. Each corner reveals a piece of Etterbeek’s past. From its colonial namesake to its Art Deco facades. From its garden city roots to its modern educational institutions. The street embodies the evolution of this Brussels neighborhood. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history. Absorb the architectural beauty. Remember General Fivé’s complex legacy.