Blog #2

Victor Horta

Victor Horta – Art Nouveau 

Art Nouveau, started in Belgium in 1892. The movement was inspired by the theories of Viollet Le Duc with the emphasis to incorporate function, visual logic systems, new technology such as iron, organic form, and the arts and craft movement. For one of the first times in history Art Nouveau set out to create beautiful living spaces that would last the test of time. Some of the most influential architects of Art Nouveau are Otto Wagner, Aubery Beardsley, Henry Van de Velde, Hector Guimard, and Victor Horta.

With the theory of Viollet Le Duc influencing him, Victor Horta starts to become one of the first and most influential architects to design during the Art Nouveau movement. After finishing school at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris he starts to work for an interior designer by the name of Jules Debuyson an interior designer who was a major influence on Hotra’s life. Victor starts to become engaged and influenced with the use of iron as a structural system one of the new engineered technologies of the times.

 One of the most famous works designed by Horta was the Hotel Tassel finished in 1893. This design was notable for the cast iron structure, use of glass, richness of decoration, and shaped by soft lines and organic forms. Below is an interior and exterior example of the Hotel Tassel one of the earlier works completed by Victor Horta.

Hotel Tassel

                            

Hotel Tassel

Victor Horta continues to design in the Art Nouveau style through the end of the 19^th century and into the start of the 20^th century. As he is designing in during the Art Nouveau period he stays in the residential side of architecture with a few design examples of the Solvay Mansion, and Van Eetvelde mansion.

Solvay Mansion

Van Eetvelde Mansion

As Horta starts to become older after the turn of the 20^th century he moves back to Brussels in 1919. After the war Art Nouveau sees a decline in popularity due to the lack of funds or fashion that was once appreciated. Victor starts to change his style to a more modern and geometrical designs. He does incorporate some ideas from art Nouveau such as exposed structural systems and functional building layouts. This can be seen in one of his more famous pieces of architecture the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

Palais des Beaux-Arts

Through his career Victor Horta was influenced by Viollet le Duc and other designers such as Jules Debuyson. As a designer he will be most known for his contributions to the Art Nouveau period. It should also be taken into consideration that the Influence he had after the war with the change from Art Nouveau to Modernism is also relevant to the architecture of today. Victor Horta is one of the great architects from the 19^th century who is influencing many new designers of today. 

Victor Horta Retrieved from http://www.victor-horta.com/

Belgium, Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta( Brussels) Retrieved from http://leonardfrank.com/worldheritage/VictorHorta.html

Victor Horta’s Hotel Solvay Retrieved from http://www.cromwell-intl.com/travel/belgium/art-nouveau-architecture/