Victor Horta

Victor Horta (January 6 1861 - September 9 1947) was a Belgian architect. John Julius Norwich described him as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect".

Related Topics:
January 6 - 1861 - September 9 - 1947 - Belgian - Architect - John Julius Norwich

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Born in Ghent, he was first attracted to the architectural profession when he helped his uncle on a building site at the age of twelve. He studied in Ghent, but left to become an interior designer living in Montmartre in Paris. There, he was inspired by the emerging impressionist and pointillist artists, and also by the possibilities of working in steel and glass.

Related Topics:
Ghent - Building site - Interior designer - Montmartre - Paris - Impressionist - Pointillist - Steel - Glass

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When Horta's father died in 1880, he returned to Belgium and moved to Brussels, to study at the academy of fine arts. He married, and fathered two daughters.

Related Topics:
1880 - Brussels - Married

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In Brussels, Horta built a friendship with Paul Hankar, later also to embrace Art Nouveau. Horta did well in his studies, and was taken on as an assistant by his professor Alphonse Balat, architect to Léopold II of Belgium. Together, they designed the royal Greenhouses of Laeken, Horta's first work to utilise glass and steel.

Related Topics:
Paul Hankar - Professor - Alphonse Balat - Léopold II of Belgium - Greenhouses of Laeken

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By 1885, Horta was working on his own, and designed three houses which were built that year. He then decided to avoid residential work for wealthy clients and instead devoted himself to competitions for public work, including statuary and even tombs. He focused on the curvature of his designs, believing that the forms he produced were highly practical and not artistic affectations.

Related Topics:
1885 - House - Statuary - Tomb - Curvature

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During this period, Horta socialised widely and joined the freemasons. This ensured a stream of clients when he returned to designing housing and shops from 1893.

Related Topics:
Freemason - Housing - Shop - 1893

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After Art Nouveau lost favor, many of Horta's buildings were destroyed, most notably the Maison du Peuple (1896-1909) built for the progressive political party, the Parti Ouvrier Belge and demolished in 1965. Four of his private houses (hôtels) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Related Topics:
Parti Ouvrier Belge - World Heritage Site

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• Hôtel Tassel, designed and built for Prof. Émile Tassel in 1892–93.

:*Matt Watts, "Hôtel Tassel" 1995

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• Hôtel Solvay, designed and built 1895-1900
• Hôtel van Eetvelde, designed and built 1895 – 98
• Maison and Atelier Horta, designed in 1898) now the Horta Museum, dedicated to his work.

Victor Horta was interred in the Ixelles Cemetery in Brussels.

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Victor Horta: External links ►