Hôtel Tassel: façade

In 1892-93, Horta produced the first major work of Art Nouveau with the revolutionary H�tel Tassel (now the Mexican Embassy), 6 Rue Paul-Emile Janson, Brussels. It was built before Henry Van de Velde - sometimes credited with the invention of the style - had built his first house. The symmetrical, stone-faced exterior of the four-storey building features exposed metalwork in the window mullions and lintels. The most extraordinary features of the house are the exposed interior metal structure and the free plan. The latter was developed in an innovative, asymmetrical arrangement around an open staircase, with rooms of varying shapes and sizes and including a mezzanine that responded to the client’s brief.

The characteristic, curvilinear decoration of the interior metalwork is particularly apparent in the staircase hall. Here a single free-standing column branches out to support the ceiling and landings, while organic tendrils intertwine to form the balustrade. Similar patterns are incorporated in two dimensions in the mosaic floor, and the effect was reinforced by the original painted decoration, which consisted of curvilinear patterns interweaving up the walls. Horta commented of this style that he discarded the flower and the leaf but kept the stalk, suggesting that his inspiration came from nature. The original contents (later dispersed) were also designed by Horta to match the decoration. Some elements, such as English wallpaper - probably by Heywood Sumner - in the dining room, indicate Horta’s awareness of artistic developments in England that were later considered part of Art Nouveau.