Little New-York in Ixelles

The neighbourhood surrounding the Rond-Point de l’Etoile and Solbosch was the epicentre of modernity during the Roaring Twenties. The former site of the Brussels International Exhibition of 1910 was developed in the 1920s to attract the upper middle classes. Many luxury apartment buildings were constructed, including the Palais de la Folle chanson, the Palais du Congo, and the La Cambre residence, Brussels’ first skyscraper, inspired by the Art Deco style of New York. Avenue Franklin Roosevelt (formerly called Avenue des Nations) was adorned with prestigious Art Deco and Modernist town houses. It was the first thoroughfare in Brussels to be designed with cars in mind, at a time when speed fascinated people. The new premises of the Université Libre de Bruxelles were also built on this avenue with American funds earmarked for post-war reconstruction. On this tour, you will discover the legacy of American influence, which has left a lasting mark , both in terms of architecture and lifestyle.