Here, you will see a number of odd houses in ‘faux-vieux’ style: they may look very old, but were actually built at the end of the 19th century. As a matter of fact, the architect made a reconstruction of an old Flemish front gabled house (with the roof ridge perpendicular to the street). He pulled out all the stops to mimic the atmosphere of the Golden Age through the façade of this house. Its step-roof is finished with decorative elements that the architect copied from motifs he had seen in reissued publications of the work of Renaissance architect Hans Vredeman de Vries. The interior of the house (number 108, not open to visitors) has also been well preserved. It is just as opulent as the façade: the incoming light is dimmed by stained-glass windows and the living room contains monumental fireplaces whose tiles are decorated with poetry.
Old, but not real
Location: Rue de la Clinique, 108, 1070 Anderlecht
