Following the success of the exhibition ‘Stoclet 1911 – Restitution’, presented at the Art and History Museum in 2024, and numerous sold-out screenings of the film reconstructing the interiors of this iconic building, the Stoclet Palace is once again in the spotlight. The exhibition ‘1911 Stoclet Palace – Villa Cavrois 1932 / Influences’ invites visitors to explore the connections between these two exceptional buildings.
This autumn, and until the end of the year, Villa Cavrois in Croix, France, is hosting an exhibition that brings together two masterpieces of European architecture: the Stoclet Palace in Brussels, designed by Josef Hoffmann and built between 1905 and 1911, and Villa Cavrois, designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens and completed in 1932.
Produced by the Centre des monuments nationaux in collaboration with Urban, the exhibition builds on the scientific and heritage project initiated in Brussels around the digital reconstruction of the Stoclet Palace.
Practical information
- From 6 October to 13 December 2026
- Villa Cavrois
60, avenue John-Fitzgerald Kennedy
59170 Croix (France) - Exhibition produced by the Centre des monuments nationaux, in collaboration with urban.brussels
- Curated by: Guy Conde-Reis
From the Stoclet Palace to Villa Cavrois: a major architectural influence
The Stoclet Palace, which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009, remains inaccessible to the public. Yet the building continues to fascinate, and it is regarded as one of the masterpieces of the Viennese architect Josef Hoffmann.
At the crossroads of Art Nouveau and Modernism, the Stoclet Palace has had a profound influence on several generations of architects. Among them was Robert Mallet-Stevens, a leading figure in modern French architecture. Linked to the Stoclet family through his mother, the half-sister of Suzanne Stevens-Stoclet, he had the opportunity to follow the design and construction of the palace closely during his visits to Brussels.
This influence can be seen in Villa Cavrois, often described as a ‘modern chateau’. Its clean lines, geometric vocabulary, emphasis on the integration of all the arts, and the striking presence of its tower establish a clear dialogue with the Stoclet Palace. The exhibition invites visitors to explore this architectural lineage and to understand how a major Brussels work helped shape the emergence of modernism in France.
An exhibition conceived in Brussels
The exhibition at Villa Cavrois has its origins in the ‘Stoclet 1911 – Restitution’ project, developed by Urban in partnership with the ULB (Architecture Faculty La Cambre Horta and the AlICe laboratory).
Initiated as part of the Brussels Art Nouveau Year 2023 and presented at the Art and History Museum in 2024, this exhibition gave the general public the opportunity to discover the interiors of the Stoclet Palace for the first time, through a three-dimensional digital reconstruction. This scientific work is the result of nearly two years of research and draws on original plans, historical archives, period photographs and an in-depth analysis of the building’s spaces. The reconstruction recreates the palace as it appeared between 1911 and 1918, offering a unique insight into the world imagined by Suzanne Stevens and Adolphe Stoclet.
The success of both the original exhibition in Brussels and the subsequent lectures and screenings highlighted the public’s interest in this iconic monument. , This new exhibition, now presented in France, allows the project to reach new audiences
Through this initiative, Urban continues its mission to promote and transmit the heritage of the Brussels Capital Region. The collaboration with the Centre des monuments nationaux also illustrates the importance of cultural exchanges between Belgium and France. By bringing together the Stoclet Palace and Villa Cavrois within a single narrative, the exhibition highlights historical, family and artistic links that transcend national borders.
A series of lectures to delve deeper into the subject
Alongside the exhibition, a series of free lectures will allow visitors to explore different facets of the Stoclet Palace through the insights of specialists involved in the research into it, as well as its conservation and digital reconstruction.
- On 22 October 2026, Isabelle Leroy, art historian, UNESCO correspondent and contributor to Urban, will discuss the history of the Stoclet Palace and the challenges involved in its safeguarding. This lecture will provide an insight into the exceptional history of this monument and the reasons for its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- On 19 November 2026, Guy Conde-Reis, architect, architectural historian, lecturer at the ULB and curator of the exhibition for Urban, will offer an immersive insight into the art of living at the Stoclet Palace. In particular, he will examine the social, cultural and aesthetic codes that shaped everyday life within this extraordinary residence.
- Finally, on 10 December 2026, David Lo Buglio, coordinator of the ULB AlICe laboratory, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the 3D modelling of the Stoclet Palace. This lecture will shed light on the scientific methodology used to produce a rigorous digital reconstruction based on archives and original plans, demonstrating the potential of digital tools for the study and transmission of heritage.
Find all practical information on the Villa Cavrois website.
