Indeed, it is named after a legendary hero. The name Rue Guillaume Tell honors the legendary Swiss hero William Tell. This street connects Dethy Street to the Forest Road crossing. The Rue Guillaume Tell wasn’t opened until 1895. An interesting fact is that it was planned earlier in 1863.
Most houses on Rue Guillaume Tell were built quickly. This construction boom happened between 1897 and 1902. These buildings often show an eclectic style. Polychrome facades and neoclassical elements are common.
Let’s explore some specific buildings on Rue Guillaume Tell. At number 58, find the Jourdan crèche. It was designed in a modernist style in 1952. Numbers 59-61 and Fort Street house former Gunther piano factory buildings. These buildings are now the De Pianofabriek Flemish cultural center.
At number 3, on the corner of Perche Street, stands a neoclassical building from 1910 designed by architect Léon Deville. It features a commercial ground floor. Number 5 showcases a neoclassical-inspired house built around 1900 by architect Prudent Mabbe with a commercial ground floor.
Houses at 7 and 7A display neoclassical influence from 1900. Hubert De Kock designed them. The ground floor once hosted commercial activities. A continuous balcony once existed. Its guardrail has been replaced. The building at 9-9A presents an eclectic style from 1900. Its ground floor formerly served commercial purposes. Number 11 is a neoclassical-inspired house built in 1900. Its windows and cornice have been replaced.
The building at number 16 presents an eclectic style from 1900. A garage door was added in 1986. Number 18 exhibits a neoclassical-inspired house built in 1900 by Prudent Mabbe. At number 20 stands an eclectic house. It now features two car entrances. A mansard roof was added in 1935. Number 22 is a neoclassical-inspired house. Prudent Mabbe designed it in 1899. Number 23 features a trapezoidal loggia added in 1931. Robert Lemaire was the architect. Number 25 dates to 1938.
The buildings at numbers 26-28-30 form an eclectic apartment building. It has a commercial ground floor built in 1900. Number 27 is a large two-story building. It has a vast garage door installed in 1952. Maurice De Maet was the architect. Number 29 is an eclectic polychrome house from 1899. It was raised by one level in 1928. Number 32 is an eclectic polychrome house now painted. A skylight was added in 1954. Number 34 is an eclectic polychrome house built in 1899. It features a carriage entrance. The guardrails have been replaced. Number 36 is an eclectic polychrome house built in 1899. It was raised by one level in 1936. Number 39 is a neoclassical-inspired house built in 1899. A fourth level was added in 1968. It features faux-jointed coating and a carriage entrance.
Numbers 41-43-45 and 67 Theodore Verhaegen Street form a neoclassical corner building from 1900. Number 42 is an eclectic polychrome house. It was raised by one level in 1932. Number 44 is an eclectic polychrome house built in 1895 by E.J. Bruisschaert. It was raised by one level in 1904. Numbers 46 and 48 are two neoclassical houses built in 1897. They were constructed together with number 50 Theodore Verhaegen Street. Number 46 had an additional level added in 1932. Number 47 is an eclectic polychrome house now painted built in 1900. Léon Deville was the architect. Number 49 is a neoclassical-inspired house from 1899. A garage door was added in 1977. Number 51 is a former neoclassical-inspired house. It was heavily modified in 1979. It now has a garage door on the ground floor.
Number 52 is a former neoclassical-inspired house built in 1899. It is currently covered with brick slips. Number 54 is an eclectic house built in 1897. It was raised in 1929 and covered with brick slips. Number 56 is a neoclassical-inspired house built in 1896. It was raised by one level in 1928. Number 60 dates to 1878. Jean Maelschalck was the architect. It is currently clad in brick. Number 62 is a former neoclassical-inspired house from 1896. It has since been stripped of its original features. At the corner of Dethy Street, number 63 is a modernist building designed in 1939 by Auguste Pistral. Number 70 is an eclectic polychrome house built in 1900.
Rue Guillaume Tell offers a glimpse into Brussels’ architectural evolution. It showcases styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The street stands as a testament to the city’s rich history.