An open-air museum of architecture: the Berkendaal neighborhood and Brugmannlaan

The Berkendaal district was designed as one of the most elegant examples of interwar urban development in Brussels, with streets wide enough to allow carriages and later cars to pass in style. What few people know is that the neighborhood was so carefully planned that every street, avenue, and house had to reflect the perfection of the urban landscape, from Brugmann Avenue to Brugmann Square. Georges Brugmann, banker and philanthropist, not only shaped a residential area, but also laid the foundation for a neighborhood where beauty and functionality go hand in hand.

Architects such as Jean-Baptiste Dewin, Henry van de Velde, and Paul Amaury Michel left their mark and often collaborated with colleagues to create a cohesive yet diverse streetscape. Both the clients of public buildings and private homes spared no expense or effort to turn their properties into showpieces. Renowned architects were happy to ride the wave of beauty and innovation, constructing a number of interesting and daring buildings.

All the architectural styles of the interwar period combine to form a fascinating whole that does not feel heterogeneous—quite the contrary! It is precisely the diversity of shapes, colors, and materials that gives this surprising neighborhood its quality and makes it well worth discovering.