Maison Devalck

Maison Devalck is an Art Nouveau townhouse at Rue André Van Hasselt 32-34 in Schaerbeek, one of the municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. The building stands exactly where the street makes a gentle bend, which allowed its architect to give it an unusual shape: two facades meeting at an obtuse angle, following the curve of the road. This solution is unusual even by the standards of Brussels Art Nouveau, a style already known for creative responses to irregular plots, and it makes the house stand out from its neighbors at first glance.

Who designed the house, and when?

The building was completed in 1900 to a design by architect Gaspard Devalck, from whom it takes its name. Devalck originally built it for his mother, and later used it himself, combining living quarters with his professional practice. This dual residential-and-professional purpose is reflected in the carefully considered layout of the interior, a pattern often seen in houses architects design for their own use, where they allow themselves more freedom than in commissioned work.

What is the facade made of?

The elevation is built in white stone, which alone gives the house a bright, elegant presence compared to the darker brick facades common in Schaerbeek. The composition is broken up by eight bands of blue stone, each framed above and below by thin courses of red brick. This rhythm of horizontal bands is one of the recognizable traits of Devalck's approach - it introduces movement without overloading the facade with ornament, setting the house apart from the more heavily decorated Art Nouveau work associated with architects such as Victor Horta.

What is the most valuable feature of the interior?

Among the most valuable elements of the interior are the stained-glass windows attributed to Raphaël Evaldre, considered one of the leading specialists in this craft in Belgium at the turn of the 20th century. Stained glass of this period served a practical purpose as well as a decorative one: it shaped and filtered the light reaching the interior of the narrow, deep-plan townhouses typical of Brussels at the time.

Does the building have heritage protection?

Maison Devalck has been listed among the protected monuments of Schaerbeek since 4 June 2009. The listing covers both the facade and the most valuable interior features, shielding them from irreversible alteration.

Has the building been restored recently?

Yes. The current owners carried out a restoration of the main facade, which won first prize in Schaerbeek's Heritage Prize competition in 2020. The award recognizes projects that combine conservation of historic fabric with a responsible update of the building for present-day residential use.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Maison Devalck located? At numbers 32 and 34 Rue André Van Hasselt in Schaerbeek, right where the street makes a gentle curve.

Can the house be visited? As a private residence it is not open to the public on a daily basis, but it is occasionally accessible during Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine), when themed presentations of the interior are organized.

Why does the house have two angled facades? Because the plot sits exactly at the point where the street bends - rather than concealing this irregularity, the architect turned it into the building's main compositional feature.

Who was Gaspard Devalck? An architect active in Brussels around the turn of the 20th century, and the designer of this house, which he built first for his mother and later occupied himself.