Global Design: Be inspired by Art Nouveau spaces in Belgium and Singapore

SINGAPORE – Art and design are everywhere in Belgium, from the fun murals painted on random facades in its capital Brussels to the quirky stepped gables of Flemish buildings in Ghent.

But the most prominent example of the Belgian flair for visual language must be Art Nouveau, a movement that was birthed in the country in the late 19th century and whose echoes still linger in the present day. 

Undulating curves, long asymmetrical lines and earthy colours and motifs are the three key features of Art Nouveau design, and these distinguish it from the Art Deco movement that rose to supersede it in the early 20th century. 

Fans of 19th-century Czech painter Alphonse Mucha will recognise elements of Art Nouveau in his art and vice versa. Mucha, who died in Prague in 1939 at the age of 78, made his name in Paris. His work became so synonymous with Art Nouveau in France that the movement there was often referred to as “le style Mucha” (the Mucha style). 

His most famous works are his iconic posters that depict a series of women – often French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt – as framed by intricate botanical elements and curved archways, and coloured in muted autumnal shades. For the modern eye, these and other art pieces by Mucha still provide an easy visual shorthand for recognising the core iconography of Art Nouveau. 

But for those looking for examples beyond the two dimensions of a canvas, there is no shortage of preserved historical buildings in Brussels that imbue Art Nouveau in their interior design and architecture.  

Maison Hannon (maisonhannon.be/en), a short drive from the city centre, is one that I visit during a short trip to Belgium in spring.

The corner townhouse – located on the junction of two avenues in the upscale Saint-Gilles neighbourhood – was built in 1902 for engineer Edouard Hannon and his wife Marie. It underwent a nine-year restoration process until June 2023 and small renovations are still ongoing throughout the property.

There is no shortage of striking architecture among the other homes in the area, but Maison Hannon’s plain cream exterior stands out in a neighbourhood full of dark facades and draws the eye towards its many tall and curved windows. 

Stepping past the foyer, visitors are met with a space that embodies the couple’s vision for a “dream-like” home that represented their respective interests in botany and antiquity – starting with the floor, which is covered in mosaic tiles laid in an intricate circular pattern. 

Light streams through a sun room on the right, where the top and bottom panes of the bay window are covered with stained glass that casts a soft, golden light throughout the former home. On the left, a sweeping, almost theatrical, spiral staircase winds down to a basement – closed to visitors – and up to a second floor of bedrooms.