Stone-Ideas.com 
Hôtel Solvay, located in the historic centre of Brussels, is one of the most celebrated works of Belgian Art Nouveau. Designed by the Belgian architect Victor Horta (1861 – 1947) for the Solvay family and completed in 1903, the building has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000. The restoration of the building has now been honored with one of the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2025. Each year, the Awards highlight up to 30 outstanding heritage achievements from across Europe.
More than 30 years after its last major intervention, the building again showed signs of critical deterioration, particularly to the façade and roof, prompting urgent conservation action. From 2022 to 2024, the focus was on the restoration of the Euville limestone, cast iron detailing, oak joinery, and stained glass.
Structural and decorative ironwork was dismantled, treated with zinc protection, and reassembled with precise attention to original techniques. The signature three-dimensional balcony grille was restored piece by piece.
The natural slate roof and two large skylights were entirely renovated to prevent water infiltration and improve insulation. A new climate control system, operated by a rooftop weather station, now regulates heat through automated skylight openings.
To guide key interventions in the works, 3D modelling and structural analysis were used in specific areas, such as the bowed bay windows.
All phases of the work were meticulously documented, creating a comprehensive technical archive for future maintenance and for restorations of other Art Nouveau buildings.
Originally a private residence for the Solvay family
Originally a private residence, the building later housed the Valens fashion house before being designated a museum in 2021. Since then, it has welcomed over 100,000 visitors. As a cultural landmark in the heart of the city, Hôtel Solvay reinforces Brussels’ reputation as the birthplace of Art Nouveau.
“The restoration of Hôtel Solvay combines sensitive conservation with discreet modern upgrades,” the Awards’ Jury highlighted. “By organizing public tours during the works, the project celebrated the craftsmanship involved and raised awareness of the value of architectural heritage.”
European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards
The European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been coordinated by Europa Nostra ever since. The Awards highlight and disseminate heritage excellence and best practices, encourage cross-border exchange of knowledge, and connect heritage stakeholders to broader European and international networks.
A Unesco World Heritage webpage informs about the cultural value of the Solvay House: „The four Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta – Hotel Tassel (1893), Hotel Solvay (1894), Hotel van Eetvelde (1895), and the House and Workshop of Victor Horta –, all located in Brussels, are outstanding examples of Art Nouveau. They bear testimony to the talent of this Belgian architect, achieving a remarkable sense of unity with meticulous attention to the smallest details of the building, from the door handle or bell to the least piece of furniture.
The Art Nouveau architecture is characterised by its open rooms, diffusion and transformation of light throughout the construction, the creation of a decor that brilliantly illustrates the curved lines of decoration embracing the structure of the building, the use of new materials (steel and glass), and the introduction of modern technical utilities.
Guided tours may be booked on the hotel‘s Webpage.
Hôtel Solvay, 224 Avenue Louise, Brussels
European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2025
