Maison Cauchie (Cauchie House), Brussels

Visible from the southeast edge of Jubilee Park ("Parc du Cinquantenaire"), the Cauchie House facade stands as an exemplary representation of the decorative Art Nouveau tradition, making it one of the finest instances of this style in Brussels.

Constructed in 1905 by Paul Cauchie, a designer and painter specializing in the "sgraffito" technique used to decorate Art Nouveau houses, the twenty-meter-high frontage serves as a literal showcase for his work, as well as his wife's contributions as an art teacher. The facade is elegantly adorned with nine muses symbolizing the arts, and the inscription "Par Nous – Pour Nous" (By Us – For Us) underscores the house's role as a promotional piece. Fortunately, a petition in 1971 saved it from demolition, and since 1975, the building has been protected as a monument.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore the interior through a tour, which includes the basement and former studio showcasing paintings by Cauchie and his contemporaries, as well as tracing the house's evolution. Upstairs on the first floor, the living quarters are preserved much as they were when Cauchie passed away in 1952. If you are unable to explore the interior, the facade alone is worth a visit.