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Brussels & Victor Horta - Art Nouveau: Cities of the New Century
Brussels & Victor Horta - Art Nouveau: Cities of the New Century
Why did Art Nouveau begin in Brussels, and why is Victor Horta considered its first and most radical architect?
In this HENI Talks conversation, art historian Paul Greenhalgh speaks with Benjamin Zurstrassen, Director of the Horta Museum, about the cultural, political, and architectural conditions that allowed Brussels to become the birthplace of Art Nouveau at the end of the 19th century.
The discussion explores how Victor Horta broke with historical styles, pioneering a new architectural language through the innovative use of iron, glass, light, and space — and why his work represents a decisive moment in the emergence of modern architecture.
Themes:
Benjamin Zurstrassen is a graduate in Philosophy and History (UCL) and Art History (ULB), he wrote his thesis on the furniture of Henry van de Velde. He has worked at the Horta Museum since 2014 and has been its curator and director since 2018. At the same time, he is a professor at the UDA-UCL and has published numerous articles and books on architecture, applied arts and the question of ornament and decoration, also between 1850 and 1950. He became president of the Art Nouveau Network in 2021.
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21:29
Discover Gaudi's Art Nouveau Masterpieces In Barcelona
Step inside Antoni Gaudí's Barcelona Modernista Masterpieces in this definitive documentary with art historian and design expert Paul Greenhalgh, as he takes you on an exclusive tour of ALL of Gaudí's most famous Barcelona buildings, exploring the stunning interiors and groundbreaking exteriors that defined Catalan Modernisme and global Art Nouveau. This film goes beyond the tourist crowds to unlock the genius of Gaudí’s vision. Discover Gaudi’s genius how he merged nature, light, and geometry to transform stone and iron into living, organic art. In this essential HENI Talk, you will experience: • The Celestial Dome of Palau Güell: Witness the architectural brilliance of Gaudí's first major commission, where the high central hall simulates a starry night sky. • The Dragon's Spine of Casa Batlló: Uncover the myths and marine inspirations behind the famous façade and its mesmerizing, light-filled interiors. • The Stone Waves of Casa Milà (La Pedrera): Explore the undulating lines, revolutionary structure, and surreal rooftop warrior-chimneys of this urban masterpiece. • The Unfinished Symphony of Sagrada Familia: A deeper look at the spiritual geometry of the basilica's vaulted ceilings, branching columns, and detailed façades. • The Mosaic Wonderland of Park Güell: Discover the fantastical, nature-inspired landscape where public and private spaces merge through vivid trencadís mosaics and serpentine benches. • The Orientalist Textures of Casa Vicens: Explore the striking blend of Moorish and Catalan design in Gaudí's groundbreaking first house, featuring dazzling tilework and elaborate iron railings. • The Experimental Crypt of Colònia Güell Church: Go inside the architect's "laboratory" to see his revolutionary use of angled columns, twisted brick, and hyperbolic arches—a prelude to the Sagrada Familia. Presented by Paul Greenhalgh, former Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), this film offers a unique academic insight into the social, political, and artistic context of Gaudí's work, positioning him as a global pioneer of 20th-century design.
16:55
The Origins of Art Nouveau Architecture
An in-depth film that explores Horta's Architectural legacy and the beginnings of art nouveau with writer and curator Paul Greenhalgh. Seen as a major breakthrough of modern architecture in the 1890s. Tracing its origins to Victor Horta’s house for the scientist and professor Émile Tassel, this film visits and explores Horta’s four major townhouses—Hôtel Tassel, Hôtel Solvay, Hôtel van Eetvelde, and Maison & Atelier Horta (Horta Museum as it is today) —remarkable and pioneering works of Art Nouveau architecture.
17:00
Art Nouveau in Helsinki
Did you know Helsinki has one of Europe's largest collections of Art Nouveau ("Jugendstil")? It boasts having the most Art Nouveau/Jugend buildings in Northern Europe with over 600 buildings characterised by national romantic motifs like granite, folklore creatures, and nature-inspired designs. This film by HENI Talks on Art Nouveau, explores Jugendstil – Finland’s version of Art Nouveau – a movement that turned ordinary buildings into complete works of art and helped a young nation find its voice. Walking through Katajanokka’s castle-like apartment blocks, the Pohjola Insurance Building, studio-home Vitrésk, the National Museum, theatre and bank interiors, Kallio Church and Helsinki Central Station, we see how architects fused: – wild Nordic nature and the Kalevala myths – granite, wood, stained glass and mural painting – political hope, national pride and everyday life From stone monsters and stylised forests to towering churches and the lantern bearers of the railway station, Jugendstil in Helsinki becomes a total work of art – architecture, design and storytelling woven together.