Mansion Hannon

Maison Hannon stands as one of the most distinctive Art Nouveau residences in Brussels, tucked into the quiet Saint-Gilles district near Ma Campagne. Today it operates as a museum, but it spent decades first as a private home and later as the subject of a long fight for preservation.

Where did this mansion come from?

The house was commissioned by Marie and Édouard Hannon, a married couple who in 1902 approached their friend, architect Jules Brunfaut, to design a residence reflecting their personal interests. This project remains Brunfaut's only building in the Art Nouveau style — an architect who was active mainly around the turn of the twentieth century and who otherwise worked in more classical idioms. The house was meant to bring together Marie's passion for botany with Édouard's fascination with Greek antiquity, poetry, and contemporary technology, ideas that shaped the decorative motifs and layout throughout the interior.

What makes the interior so distinctive?

Much of the interior decoration was designed by Émile Gallé, the French master of Art Nouveau best known for his work in glass and furniture. Because of his involvement, Maison Hannon effectively merges Belgian and French strands of Art Nouveau into a single, cohesive, almost symbolist and dreamlike atmosphere. The collection and decor also feature contributions from other major names of the period, including James Ensor, Victor Rousseau, and Émile Claus — figures central to Belgian art at the time. The result is an interior where architecture, sculpture, painting, and decorative craft all contribute to one unified narrative.

How did the building survive to the present day?

The mansion's fate was far from guaranteed. Over the years it fell into disrepair, and its deteriorating condition became the subject of extensive press coverage. A turning point came in 1979, when the Commune of Saint-Gilles purchased the property specifically to halt its decline and secure its long-term protection. That acquisition marked the first step in a decades-long process that would eventually turn the private residence into a museum open to the public.

When and how did the museum come to be?

In 2019, the non-profit organization Maison Hannon was founded with the goal of professionally managing the building and opening it to visitors in collaboration with the Musée Horta — the museum dedicated to Victor Horta, the most celebrated figure of Brussels Art Nouveau. The partnership makes sense: both institutions work to protect and promote the same architectural period in the city, even though each focuses on a different architect and a different residence. After years of preparation and restoration work, the museum officially opened its doors to the public on 1 June 2022.

Why is it worth a visit?

Maison Hannon is more than an example of Art Nouveau architecture — it tells the story of a couple who wanted their home to mirror their personal passions, and of a city that chose to rescue a unique piece of heritage from disappearing altogether. For anyone interested in Art Nouveau, it makes a natural companion visit to the Musée Horta, offering a chance to see how the same artistic movement could take strikingly different forms in the hands of different creators.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Maison Hannon located? In the Saint-Gilles district of Brussels, near Ma Campagne.

Who designed the building? Architect Jules Brunfaut, commissioned by Marie and Édouard Hannon in 1902.

Since when has it operated as a museum? Since 1 June 2022, following years of work by the non-profit organization founded in 2019.

Is Maison Hannon connected to the Musée Horta? Yes, the two institutions collaborate on preserving and promoting Brussels' Art Nouveau heritage.