Overview

Construction of the home of banker David van Buuren and his wife Alice began in 1928, under the direction of Brussels architects Léon Govaerts and Alexis van Vaerenbergh. The duo imagined a home that masterfully reflected the Art Deco style, both inside and out. As patrons and collectors, the van Buuren family decorated the ensemble with taste, adorning the salons with masterpieces, sculptures and rare objects. The woodwork, furniture, carpets and works of art created a harmonious setting of shimmering colours. To design the surrounding area, the couple turned to landscape architect Jules Buyssens. He took advantage of the steep, cramped terrain to create a French landscape garden featuring a green room, a herbaceous border, ponds, a flower wall, rockeries, and heather and conifer beds bordering a central lawn. In 1968, René Péchère was commissioned to recreate the yew labyrinth on the theme of the "Song of Songs". He also replaced the tennis court with a rose garden and created the garden of hearts, one of the site's most popular attractions. The site is home to a fine collection of sculptures illustrating the Art Deco aesthetic of the interwar period, linked to the international exhibitions of 1925 and 1935. Works by Aristide Maillol, Ossip Zadkine, Rik Wouters, Philippe Wolfers, Constant Permeke and Dolf Ledel adorn the museum's interior and gardens. (CL 17/04/1997) The gardens of the Van Buuren Museum are freely accessible on Saturday and Sunday. The house can be visited free of charge on Saturday. There are no guided tours of the interior on the programme.

Practical information

Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00

Van Buuren Museum & Gardens, avenue Léo Errera 41, 1180 Uccle

Advance booking not required.

Non accessible

Address
Van Buuren Museum & Gardens, avenue Léo Errera 41, 1180 Uccle