Maison Cauchie now showcases the full beauty of its façade even after dark, thanks to a new heritage lighting scheme. This new lighting scheme, designed by Urban and Sibelga, marks the launch of a programme dedicated to illuminating five iconic Art Nouveau buildings in Brussels. This project offers a new way of showcasing this exceptional heritage, building on the momentum generated by the Art Nouveau Year 2023.
Revealing another side to Maison Cauchie
Maison Cauchie is located on Rue des Francs in Etterbeek, and is one of the most iconic Brussels Art Nouveau buildings. The building, constructed in 1905 by Paul Cauchie as a home and workshop for himself and his wife Lina, stands out in particular because of its spectacular façade adorned with sgraffito. This true showcase of the artistic couple’s expertise combines architecture, decorative arts, graphic design and metalwork.
The façade lighting scheme has therefore been designed to complement its unique architecture rather than to alter it. Thanks to the combined expertise of Sibelga’s and Urban’s teams, who studied and oversaw the project, the lighting reveals the sgraffito and the allegorical figures, emphasises the contours of the façade and its distinctive circular window, whilst bringing out its colours, textures and the fineness of its decorative details. The intervention thus offers a new perspective on the building when the natural light fades. The lighting of the façade therefore also provides a clearer view, ensuring that its details can be perceived better after nightfall.
The lighting design was entrusted to the design firm Light to Light, whereas Sibelga oversaw the works as part of its cooperation with Urban.
Five Art Nouveau gems in the spotlight
Illuminating the façade of Maison Cauchie is the first project in a lighting programme dedicated to five major Art Nouveau heritage buildings in Brussels. Alongside this one, four other buildings will be illuminated: Hôtel Solvay, the Horta Museum, Maison Hannon and Hôtel van Eetvelde.
Urban’s contribution to this programme, run in partnership with Sibelga, is to select the heritage buildings concerned and to provide guidance on the projects from a heritage perspective, so as to ensure that they are consistent with the regional policy on heritage protection and enhancement. Sibelga, for its part, is notably responsible for the technical studies, the coordination of the lighting design and the installation of the lighting systems.
Each lighting scheme is therefore designed to suit the specific characteristics of the building in question. The common goal remains the same: creating a new way of experiencing these remarkable buildings at night and enhancing their presence in the Brussels urban landscape.
Bringing the Art Nouveau Year 2023’s legacy to life
The lighting project is also a continuation of the Art Nouveau Year 2023, which showcased the Belgian capital’s extraordinary Art Nouveau heritage through countless partnerships, the opening of two new venues dedicated to the Art Nouveau heritage, and more than thirty exhibitions, conferences, guided tours and other activities.
During this themed year, Urban rolled out a wide-ranging policy to promote and raise awareness of this heritage, by supporting and funding numerous initiatives designed to introduce Art Nouveau to a wide audience.
This momentum continues today, long after this themed year. Inventories of built heritage and movable heritage, publications, exhibitions (such as 1911 Stoclet - Villa Cavrois 1932 / Influences), heritage promotion projects (such as Aubecq 3.0), and the coordination of the Réseau Art Nouveau Network: Urban continues to document, protect, promote and make Brussels Art Nouveau accessible in many different ways.
Illuminating Maison Cauchie, and later four other buildings as well, adds a further dimension to this initiative. By revealing these façades after nightfall, Art Nouveau heritage continues to form an integral part of Brussels’ everyday landscape, even more than three years after the year that was dedicated to this style.
Visit Art Nouveau heritage using the Pass
The Art Nouveau Pass allows you to explore three Art Nouveau venues in Brussels. You can choose from a selection of exceptional museums and exhibitions. With this Pass, you also receive discounts on a wide range of guided tours, as well as in the capital’s Art Nouveau shops and brasseries!
