Victor Horta's Tassel House: A Modernist Masterpiece in Brussels

Tassel House

Victor Horta, Brussels, 1892-1893

Key Features:

• Location: Brussels
• Architect: Victor Horta
• Style: Modernism (Art Nouveau)
• Period: 1892-1893
• Construction System: Industrial Materials

Historical Context

The 19th century was a time of profound political, economic, and cultural change. The Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution were particularly influential. Napoleon extended French influence throughout Europe. Following his defeat, the victorious European monarchies sought to restore the old order, a period known as the Restoration.

Cultural Movements

Three major artistic movements dominated this era: Neoclassicism, Realism, and Romanticism.

Modernism (Art Nouveau)

a) Emergence: Modernism, also known as Art Nouveau, emerged as a response to the newly enriched bourgeoisie's desire for an art that referenced the past but with greater elegance and quality. It emphasized fantasy and creativity. Artists and designers sought to imitate natural processes and forms, resulting in an abundance of curved lines and a unification of the arts under undulating forms. Ornamentation was highly valued. Two main tendencies emerged within Modernism:

1. Undulating: Predominance of curved lines.
2. Geometric: Predominance of straight lines.

b) Architecture: Modernist architecture is characterized by its undulating forms. Key figures include:

• Victor Horta: He is credited with the Tassel House in Brussels, but his masterpiece is the Casa del Pueblo, which combines steel and glass in a wide, curved facade.
• Henry van de Velde: A theorist and propagandist of Belgian Modernism, Van de Velde was more traditional than Horta. Notable works include the House Uck and the decoration of the shop Marchante S. Bing (Paris), also known as the Art Nouveau Museum Folkwang Hagen.

Tassel House: Description

a) Exterior: The facade is narrow and simple, with a prominent central section made of glass, which gives it a marked sinuosity. Distinctive features include the windows, separated by stone columns up to the first floor, and small, unusual metal railings on the second floor. The third floor is a terrace.

b) Interior:

• The floor plan is narrow and elongated, almost rectangular.
• The interior layout of the three floors is determined by the staircase, which rises in the lobby. This allows for rooms to be located on either side of a corridor, breaking with the traditional arrangement of the time.

c) Decoration: The decoration draws heavily on vegetal motifs.

d) Structural Elements: The slender iron columns of the Tassel House combine structural support with decorative function. The capitals are particularly imaginative and creative. The roof beams are made of iron and are visible as an integral part of the design.

Significance

The Tassel House is a private, residential building. The sensuality of the curved line, known as the coup de fouet (whiplash), and the plant motifs that pervade the house symbolize its integration with nature.