Architects: Albert VAN HUFFEL, 1921-1935, and Paul ROME, 1921-1970
The copper dome of the Basilica of Koekelberg is a landmark in the Brussels skyline. But did you know that this monument is also the largest Art Deco building in the world? Here, it’s not just spirituality that soars but also aesthetics and craftsmanship. With a capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 seats, exhibitions and concerts are regularly organised in the space. Moreover, this temple houses no less than two museums. The Museum of the Black Sisters of Brussels presents the rich art collection of the Black Sisters convent, spanning several centuries of religious and civil art. The Museum of Modern Religious Art, on the other hand, focuses on contemporary variations.
Construction and finishings took half a century and spanned both world wars. However, the plans, initiated by King Leopold II, had been underway for forty years. Fascinated by Paris, he dreamed of a Brussels version of Paris’ Sacred Heart Basilica and his own Champs-Élysées-style avenue in the capital. But World War I left the coffers empty. A new, “slimmer” project had to be conceived, and Van Huffel was commissioned. In the 1920s, he gradually simplified his style, adopting geometric forms. True to the spirit of Art Deco, he sought to create a functional and aesthetically coherent whole. In fact, the model of his first project for the basilica won a notable prize at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris—the exhibition that gave the movement its name. This model is still on display in the basilica!
