Author Description

The story of how the Belgian Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta conceived his private residence/studio and how architect Barbara Van Der Wee restored it to its original splendour Victor Horta (1861-1947) is considered the most prominent Belgian architect of the Art Nouveau movement. His private house in Brussels, built in 1901, is a rare and stunning example of this style. In 1990, Barbara Van der Wee was given the challenging task of restoring the house--its original architectural concept being compromised over the years due to many renovations--and of transforming it into a house museum. In this book, she tells the story of her encounter with the house and the various ways in which she explored Horta's home as well as his work, thoughts, and dreams. Through this personal narrative and the text of Françoise Aubry we learn how Horta evolved into a pioneering virtuoso of Art Nouveau and understand how, a century later, Van der Wee developed her own philosophy to restoring this extraordinary piece of heritage in Brussels.