Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani

Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani is a historic town house in Ixelles, one of the municipalities of Brussels, and one of the notable examples of Art Nouveau residential architecture in the area. The building was constructed in 1897 as the private home of the symbolist painter Albert Ciamberlani. Interestingly, the commission and funding came from his mother, who formally ordered the construction on her son's behalf.

Who designed the building?

The architectural design was the work of Paul Hankar, one of the leading figures of Brussels Art Nouveau, whose work alongside Victor Horta reshaped the appearance of many streets in the city around the turn of the 20th century. Hankar was responsible for the structure and layout of the town house, but the building's most recognizable decorative feature came from a different hand entirely.

What makes the façade distinctive?

The most striking feature of Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani is the large allegorical sgraffito decoration covering its façade. This artwork was designed by Albert Ciamberlani himself, the painter for whom the house was built. Sgraffito is a decorative technique in which layers of differently coloured plaster are applied and then partly scratched away to reveal the layer beneath, producing subtle, painterly compositions with strong visual impact. The fact that the house's own resident designed this decoration, rather than an outside decorator, makes the façade a unique blend of Hankar's architecture and Ciamberlani's personal artistic vision.

Why does the building have another name?

The house is also sometimes known as Hôtel Veuve Ciamberlani, meaning "the widow Ciamberlani's house" — a reference to the painter's mother, who was widowed and who commissioned and financed the construction. This dual naming reflects the family nature of the project: the house was built on the mother's initiative, yet it served as her son's residence and as a showcase of his artistic sensibility.

Where is the building located?

Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani stands in Ixelles, one of the nineteen municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, an area known for its dense turn-of-the-century urban fabric and numerous Art Nouveau buildings. It was in this part of Brussels that Art Nouveau architects such as Hankar and Horta left some of their most recognizable marks on the cityscape.

Frequently asked questions

When was Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani built? The house was built in 1897.

Who was the architect? The architectural design was created by Paul Hankar.

Who designed the façade decoration? The large allegorical sgraffito on the façade was designed by Albert Ciamberlani, the symbolist painter and first occupant of the house.

Why is the house also called Hôtel Veuve Ciamberlani? Because it was commissioned and paid for by the artist's mother, a widow, on her son's behalf.

Which municipality of Brussels is the building in? It stands in Ixelles, an area known for its many Art Nouveau buildings.

Hôtel Albert Ciamberlani is not only a testament to Paul Hankar's skill as an Art Nouveau architect, but also a rare example of collaboration between an architect and a painter who designed the decoration of his own home. This unusual combination makes the building one of the notable landmarks of Brussels Art Nouveau in Ixelles.