Overview

Vocational education was booming, and there were plans to build an Institut des Arts et Métiers as early as 1913. The war delayed the project, which finally took shape in 1926 when engineer and architect Eugène François was commissioned to draw up plans for a vast complex with the help of architect Alexis Dumont. The complex was on a plot of land made available after the demolition of the municipal abattoir. Designed in a monumental Art Deco style, the original facade featured a marked asymmetry due to the presence of a powerful rotunda on the right-hand side. It is preceded by a ring-shaped entrance vestibule with three doors featuring geometrically-designed wrought-iron grilles. Two pyramid-topped pylons flank this rotunda, to which seven bays have been added. The first two, occupied by the concierge and the library, precede a third, larger one with an additional entrance. The last four are identical and punctuated by spur-like buttresses that contribute to the building’s marked verticality. This is counterbalanced by the horizontality of the alternating registers of bluestone, yellow brick and bay windows. The sculptures, created by Marcel Rau and Jean Canneel, complete the ensemble. It features ten octagonal medallions representing the emblems of the Arts et Métiers over the third floor, four seated statues 2.40 m high topping the buttresses of the rotunda, and a gilded bronze effigy of Saint Michael slaying the dragon topping the main entrance. The interior was also carefully decorated in typical Art Deco style. (CL 19/08/2024) In collaboration with Bruxelles Bavard (FR) and Klare Lijn (NL/EN).

Practical information

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00

boulevard de l’Abattoir 50, 1000 Brussels

Advance booking required.

Non accessible

Bookings

Select the time slot that suits you and make your reservation online.

Saturday 20/09/25 Select your time slot

• 10:00 > 10:45 FR 0 pl.
• 10:30 > 11:15 NL 0 pl.
• 11:00 > 11:45 FR 0 pl.
• 11:30 > 12:15 EN 0 pl.
• 12:00 > 12:45 FR 0 pl.
• 12:30 > 13:15 NL 4 pl.
• 14:00 > 14:45 FR 0 pl.
• 14:30 > 15:15 NL 15 pl.
• 15:00 > 15:45 FR 0 pl.
• 15:30 > 16:15 EN 11 pl.
• 16:00 > 16:45 FR 0 pl.
• 16:30 > 17:15 NL 0 pl.

Sunday 21/09/25 Select your time slot

• 10:00 > 10:45 FR 0 pl.
• 10:30 > 11:15 NL 7 pl.
• 11:00 > 11:45 FR 0 pl.
• 11:30 > 12:15 EN 0 pl.
• 12:00 > 12:45 FR 0 pl.
• 12:30 > 13:15 NL 2 pl.
• 14:00 > 14:45 FR 0 pl.
• 14:30 > 15:15 NL 7 pl.
• 15:00 > 15:45 FR 0 pl.
• 15:30 > 16:15 EN 0 pl.
• 16:00 > 16:45 FR 0 pl.
• 16:30 > 17:15 NL 1 pl.

Address
boulevard de l’Abattoir 50, 1000 Brussels