This prestigious “Belle Époque” hotel is set to reopen its doors after four years of extensive renovation.
Urban’s teams closely monitored the restoration works at the Hotel Astoria, aiming to restore its former glory while discreetly integrating state-of-the-art facilities. These modern additions have been carefully incorporated to respect the original architecture, ensuring that new visitors can enjoy all the comforts of contemporary hospitality without compromising the historic essence of the building.
The revival of the Hotel Astoria goes beyond the restoration of a historic monument. It reflects the Brussels-Capital Region’s commitment to balancing heritage preservation with energy innovation, adapting the city’s heritage to meet today’s needs.
These new, modern infrastructures breathe fresh life into the building, enhancing and diversifying Brussels’ tourism offering. Visitors from across the globe will bring this “Belle Époque” jewel back to life, writing a new chapter in its remarkable story.
A Bit of History
The Hotel Astoria, a prestigious Beaux-Arts-style hotel designed by architect Henri Van Dievoet in 1908-1909, was built by the Devillers-Mengelle family to accommodate visitors to the 1910 World Exhibition. It is one of Brussels’ most renowned hotels from the “Belle Époque.”
Part of the elite category of grand European hotels, it is a legendary witness to the early days of luxury hospitality. Over the years, this magnificent establishment has hosted numerous notable and famous figures, including Winston Churchill, Eisenhower, Salvador Dalí, Marguerite Yourcenar, Pierre Fresnay, Maurice Chevalier, the Japanese prince Hirohito, and the Shah of Persia, among others.
In September 2000, to preserve this remarkable site, parts of the hotel’s interior, as well as its façade and roof, were listed as protected monuments by the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region due to their artistic, aesthetic, historical, and urban significance.
Honouring the Past While Looking to the Future
Restoring the original beauty and elegance of this monument required Urban to issue multiple permits, allowing the restoration, renovation, and extension works to rejuvenate the building while respecting its original state.
The restoration focused on the finest details of the décor: the richly sculpted and moulded plasterwork was carefully restored and repainted, the woodwork was stripped and recoloured, and the crystal chandeliers and large mirrors were restored with jeweller-like precision.
The hotel’s grand stained-glass roof, lost in 1948, was only known from a few historical photographs. Far more than just a glass roof, it was a masterpiece of light and colour that bathed the hotel’s interior in a magical atmosphere. This majestic structure, with its floral motifs and intricate arabesques, was once the focal point of the hotel’s lounges, casting shimmering reflections that shifted throughout the day.
Using period photographs, the stained-glass roof has been entirely recreated using traditional coloured glass techniques. Existing stained-glass panels from the first floor served as models for reproducing the intricate designs and colours.
Above the stained-glass roof, there was likely another glass roof in 1910 to ensure the lobby’s waterproofing, but no traces of it have been found. As a result, a contemporary, innovative solution was adopted: the stained-glass roof has been doubled with a modern double skin, following its domed profile, providing enhanced thermal insulation and long-term durability.
The Key Role of the Brussels-Capital Region in Promoting Heritage
Recognising the importance of this heritage, Urban contributed €2,725,000 to the works, covering 40% of the restoration costs estimated in 2009. The reconstruction of the lobby’s stained-glass roof, the project’s most striking feature, received 80% financial support.
The financial backing of the Brussels-Capital Region, Urban’s technical oversight, and close collaboration between all stakeholders were crucial in successfully completing this project. This effort brings new life to this exceptional site, honouring the elegance and craftsmanship of the “Belle Époque.