Architecture in Uccle

This route begins with a short stroll through part of square Coghen and rue du Doyenné, and the area known as the Philippe Dotremont ensemble. In 1934-1935, architect De Koninck built an apartment block with a commercial ground floor and three blocks of two semi-detached houses. Here, we are in the heart of the modernist style, with concrete, austere facades, flat roofs, etc. (75-87 square Coghen and 48-54 rue du Doyenné)

Now we move on to the old centre of the commune to stop for a moment in front of Saint Pierre church. Although the current building has nothing in common with the churches that preceded it, its location has been the same since the 12^th century. The building you are looking at dates from 1778-1782 and is in the neoclassical style. The main facade is an elegant blend of brick, white stone and bluestone. (parvis Saint-Pierre)

We are not done with modernism quite yet. The Claire Maison apartment building graces avenue Brugmann. Its name is undoubtedly linked to the large windows that make up its facades. Maurice Houyoux was the architect of this 1935 modernist work. The building fits perfectly into a street corner, with shapes reminiscent of large ocean liners. (421 avenue Brugmann)

Still on avenue Brugmann, we invite you to marvel at Haerens House, an Art Deco mansion built in 1928 to plans by Antoine Courtens, an architect trained by Horta. This building originally housed two apartments: a luxurious one on the first floor and a second, less lavish one on the ground floor for rental. (384 avenue Brugmann)

If you take avenue de l'Echevinage, you will soon see Philippe Dotremont House on your right, named after an industrialist and art collector who used the services of architect De Koninck. The modernist building stands out from its neighbours on the street, so much so that the building permit was not easy to obtain in 1931-1932! The Belgian architect was inspired by Le Corbusier, with overall simplicity and a roof terrace. (3 avenue de l'Echevinage)

The Maison des Terrasses is another modernist work, located just a few steps from the previous one. Built by Raphaël Delville in 1936, the building features three terraces on the first and second floors, as well as a solarium roof on the third floor. (16 avenue de l'Echevinage)

Now, let's take a look at an architect's house - they rarely disappoint! Léon Sneyers' personal home and office is also on avenue de l'Echevinage. This massive Art Deco building was built between 1925 and 1927. Sneyers made a major contribution to the transition from geometric Art Nouveau to Art Deco. (21 avenue de l'Echevinage)

It’s hard to pass through this corner of Uccle without mentioning the Russian Orthodox church, constructed in memory of Nicholas II, the last Russian tsar, on the initiative of Russian emigrants fleeing the October Revolution of 1917. Conceived and designed in 1935, the church was not inaugurated until 1950. It is very elegant and its forms are inspired by Russian mediaeval architecture. (8 avenue du Manoir)

A detour to Wolvendael Park offers a chance to relax in this beautiful green space and discover its architectural heritage. The château in the park, built in 1763, is in the classical style. This elegant building now houses the Uccle School of Art. Don't miss the Louis XV-style pavilion, which was purchased in Amsterdam in 1909, dismantled and reassembled stone by stone at the edge of the park (entrance to the park via avenue de Fré). (avenue Wolvendael)

When you leave the park, head west to the Bloemenwerf, a villa designed by Henry Van de Velde in 1895. This is Van de Velde's first architectural work. He drew on several styles, reinterpreting the English cottage in his own way. He lived there for a very short time. (102 avenue Vanderaey)

Heading east again, you will pass the Dieweg, a former municipal cemetery opened in 1867. Now disused, vegetation has reclaimed the plot, offering a sumptuous spectacle for wild nature enthusiasts. A number of personalities are buried here, including Hergé, the famous cartoonist and father of Tintin. (95 Dieweg)

Along the way is another house designed by Henry Van de Velde, the Maison Grégoire-Lagasse. Dating from 1933, it is perfectly in keeping with the modernist style, featuring clean lines, uncluttered volumes and a flat roof that serves as a terrace. (292 Dieweg)

Now we head for the Observatory opposite, which we will pass to the left. The famous and aptly named avenue Circulaire leads to Villa Norine, a large Art Deco mansion built by architect Victor Dirickx in 1925. In addition to the lavish interior design, with materials such as gold and mosaic tile, you can also take note of the details of the exterior ornamentation, such as the work on the entrance gate or the remarkable way in which the house number is written. (146 avenue Circulaire)

A little further on, you will find yourself at the entrance to the Royal Observatory of Belgium, a vast 12-hectare site in the shape of a circle, built in the 1880s by Octave van Rysselberghe. The many buildings oscillate between the eclectic and neoclassical styles. It comprises several departments - astronomy, meteorology and space aeronomy. (3 avenue Circulaire)

You do not have to walk far to get to our next stop, and it is an important one: Villa Vandevelde. No link to the famous architect, but rather the owner, Maurice Vandevelde. The building, designed by Adrien Blomme and his son in 1936, is all white except for the window edges, roof and baseboards, and takes its inspiration from both Art Deco and modernism. (99 avenue Houzeau)

If you continue around the Observatory site, you will pass another example of modernism with these twin houses in the purest modernist style. The architect was Georges Ricquier and it was finished in 1939. (118-120 avenue Circulaire)

Just a few steps away is the former RTT building, inspired by post-war modernism, with its large bay windows, rounded shapes and use of glass bricks. Built in 1950, it was designed by Gaston Brunfaut. (45 rue de l'Equateur)

Have you heard of the architectural and urban planning curiosity known as carrés (squares)? These groups of small working-class dwellings were built in the second half of the 19^th century and are accessible only via a narrow alley. The concept has been particularly well preserved in Uccle, particularly in the north-western part of the commune, in the area known as the Quartier du Chat. (between avenue Brugmann and chaussé d’Alsemberg)

The Domaine du Neckersgat will take you back to the days when Uccle was a village of mills and paper mills. The buildings are typical of 17^th-century Brabant architecture, with a central courtyard around which are arranged the old miller's house and the outbuildings. The buildings housing the machinery have sadly been demolished. Rue Keyenbempt is particularly picturesque... (66-70 rue Keyenbempt)

Many Brussels communes have them on their territory, and Uccle is no exception. Homborch Garden City was designed by architect Fernand Bodson, who built 120 houses between 1928 and 1930. Rumour has it that the end of the project was complicated and that the architect regularly had to go to the station himself to recruit workers and bring them to the site! (Homborch)

Last but not least, the site of Boitsfort racecourse, which is actually located in the commune of Uccle! The 32.5 ha site formerly dedicated to horse racing retains several magnificent architectural features, which have been renovated, such as the grandstand in the Flemish Renaissance Revival style (1875), the small grandstand in an eclectic style (1878) and the weighing building (1900). (53 chaussée de la Hulpe)