Around the ponds of Ixelles

Who wouldn't want to live in the idyllic greenery of the Maalbeek Valley? Around the Ponds of Ixelles, nature has been exquisitely orchestrated: water features, rocks, fountains, and front gardens combine to form a carefully landscaped setting that is reflected in both the water and the architecture. Along the banks stand aristocratic houses, each more chic than the last, built in a rich variety of styles that underline the elegance and ambitious character of the neighborhood.

The architecture surrounding the ponds of Ixelles tells a rich and layered story. There are opulent Art Nouveau houses designed at the turn of the last century by Ernest Blerot and Ernest Delune, two architects who were equally matched in terms of creativity and skill. After the First World War, tastes changed and attention shifted to greater living comfort: buildings such as La Cascade by René Ajou bear witness to this new architectural quest. In the interwar period, visionary architects such as Jean-Florian Collin (founder of Etrimo) and Stanislas Jansinski left their mark on the neighborhood with striking apartment buildings that renewed the cityscape.

The Ponds of Ixelles were also a favorite spot for artists, writers, and thinkers. Camille Lemonnier, Emile Verhaeren, and the multi-talented Akarova—dancer, set designer, painter, and sculptor—all found their home here. The ponds meander through the landscape and eventually lead you to the source of the story: the site of the former Cistercian abbey of Ter Kameren. It was here that Henry van de Velde later founded La Cambre, an art school modeled on the Kunstgewerbeschule in Weimar. During a guided tour, you will discover not only the fascinating architecture, but also the cultural and historical layers that make this neighborhood so irresistible.