Palais Stoclet
Encyclopedia
The Stoclet Palace is a private mansion
built by architect Josef Hoffmann
between 1905 and 1911 in Brussels
, Belgium
, for banker and art lover Adolphe Stoclet
. Considered Hoffman's masterpiece, the Stoclet's house is one of the most refined and luxurious private houses of the twentieth century.
The mansion is still occupied by the Stoclet family and is not open to visitors. It was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO
in June 2009.
(Viennese Workshop), formed in 1903, to design, build and fully furnish a house and garden. House and garden were conceived as one architectural whole.
Stoclet Palace was constructed on Avenue de Tervueren
, in the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Brussels. The building is of asymmetrical plan, and the architectural features radically simplified in a way that looks forward to Modernism. The exterior walls, initially white, are "patterned by the rhythm of neat windows" while the corners and upper edges are defined by bronze mouldings. The tower over the main staircase rises to a bronze lantern ornamented with figures by sculptor Franz Metzner. The window which lights the stairwell rises the height of the building, a feature that was to influence other architectural works.
The interior of the building is decorated with marble paneling and artworks, including mosaic friezes by Gustav Klimt
and murals Ludwig Heinrich Jungnickel. This integration of architect
s, artist
s, and artisan
s makes Stoclet Palace an example of Gesamtkunstwerk
, one of the defining characteristics of Jugendstil. The sketches of Klimt
's work for the dining room can be found in the permanent collection of Museum für angewandte Kunst
(MAK) in Vienna
.
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
built by architect Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian architect and designer of consumer goods.- Biography :...
between 1905 and 1911 in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, for banker and art lover Adolphe Stoclet
Adolphe Stoclet
Adolphe Stoclet was a Belgian engineer and financier. Today, however, he is most famous as the man who commissioned the Palais Stoclet, a mansion in Brussels, Belgium, between 1907 and 1911.-Life:...
. Considered Hoffman's masterpiece, the Stoclet's house is one of the most refined and luxurious private houses of the twentieth century.
The mansion is still occupied by the Stoclet family and is not open to visitors. It was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in June 2009.
Description
In 1904, Adolphe Stoclet and his wife Suzanne commissioned Austrian architect and designer Joseph Hoffman and the Wiener WerkstätteWiener Werkstätte
Established in 1903, the Wiener Werkstätte was a production community of visual artists. The workshop brought together architects, artists and designers whose first commitment was to design art which would be accessible to everyone...
(Viennese Workshop), formed in 1903, to design, build and fully furnish a house and garden. House and garden were conceived as one architectural whole.
Stoclet Palace was constructed on Avenue de Tervueren
Avenue de Tervueren
Avenue de Tervueren or Tervurenlaan is a major thoroughfare in Brussels, Belgium. It runs from Merode in the west, connects with Montgomery Square, passes through Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and the Ring at Quatre Bras and finishes at the park in Tervuren.The avenue was commissioned by King Leopold II of...
, in the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Brussels. The building is of asymmetrical plan, and the architectural features radically simplified in a way that looks forward to Modernism. The exterior walls, initially white, are "patterned by the rhythm of neat windows" while the corners and upper edges are defined by bronze mouldings. The tower over the main staircase rises to a bronze lantern ornamented with figures by sculptor Franz Metzner. The window which lights the stairwell rises the height of the building, a feature that was to influence other architectural works.
The interior of the building is decorated with marble paneling and artworks, including mosaic friezes by Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects...
and murals Ludwig Heinrich Jungnickel. This integration of architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s, artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s, and artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
s makes Stoclet Palace an example of Gesamtkunstwerk
Gesamtkunstwerk
A Gesamtkunstwerk is a work of art that makes use of all or many art forms or strives to do so...
, one of the defining characteristics of Jugendstil. The sketches of Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects...
's work for the dining room can be found in the permanent collection of Museum für angewandte Kunst
Museum für angewandte Kunst Wien
The Museum of Applied Arts or just MAK, a short version of its German name Museum für angewandte Kunst is located in Vienna, Austria.The museum is located in the 1st district of Vienna .-External links:*...
(MAK) in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.