The guide book for Antwerp suggested a trip to the residential quarter just outside the city centre in an area called Zurenborg, to see the beautiful Art Nouveau style houses there. We always do as we are told, so we boarded the number 11 tram at Centraal Station and found the street called Cogels-Osykei and went for a walk.
This house above was practically text book Art Nouveau…I love it!
Do you see someone standing on the roof of this house?
It’s Humphrey Bogart!
The next one is for sale.
Would you like these chaps to welcome you home every day?
The houses were built between 1894 and 1914 and were saved from destruction in the 1960s after protests from the community within the city and beyond.
At least one new one has snuck in.
I like it.
On the way back to the tram we spotted this pair of interesting buildings. They were by an old railway line and I am guessing they might be water towers.
Any suggestions?
Beautiful houses. I like the one in sale!
By: Minna on August 4, 2012
at 8:38 am
I would happily have any one of them.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 8:46 am
Extraordinary Debra. I love contemporary Belgian style to pieces but I hadn’t realised the deco period was so refined. I love the soft colours and fine lines. really so delicate and just beautiful. Thank you!
By: janinevasta on August 4, 2012
at 9:34 am
Antwerp was a surprise to us too….and the chocolates were excellent.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 11:00 am
Love the houses 1894-1914; elegant! Great pictures!
By: petit4chocolatier on August 4, 2012
at 12:07 pm
The whole area was full of these gorgeous houses.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 12:18 pm
Very interesting indeed … and a great suggestion by the guidebook. Bogart on the roof is priceless. 🙂
By: aFrankAngle on August 4, 2012
at 12:09 pm
For a moment we thought it was actually a real person up there, but on closer inspection we realized there must be a Bogie fan living inside.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 12:19 pm
Oh wow, these are beautiful. I love that first round window you featured, and perfect finishing off with the modern version of a round window. I’m missing the Netherlands about now….
By: The Daily Cure on August 4, 2012
at 12:38 pm
These were some of the best examples I have seen of Art Nouveau I have seen. Helsinki has some gorgeous ones too, but a completely different style.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 12:51 pm
Lovely photos and post, Debra. Rafael has also enjoyed it. As I keep on saying, you have an architect’s eye and find details that other would have missed. I love Art Nouveau architecture and decorative arts! Plenty of fine examples here in San Francisco!!!!
By: mulino dominillo on August 4, 2012
at 1:19 pm
I loved San Francisco when I visited a few years ago. I’ll have to go back to stroll the streets looking for Art Nouveau.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 9:54 pm
It would be a dream to live in one of those beautiful homes. Thanks for sharing with us.
By: agujasblog on August 4, 2012
at 2:27 pm
The houses are very big. I suppose some of them would be converted to apartments. I would be happy to go home to any of them.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 9:55 pm
Art deco architecture is always fascinating. Well done to the community for not allowing them to be pulled down and maintaining this area as an attraction.
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on August 4, 2012
at 3:27 pm
It would have been criminal to replace these beautiful homes with modern brick flats.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 9:56 pm
I’d love to visit Belgium one day-I hear the food is great and now I know that the houses are interesting!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on August 4, 2012
at 5:15 pm
Have some Belgian fries and chocolate for me.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 9:57 pm
Beautiful houses – the chap on the roof looks a bit James Bond -ish.
By: Just Add Attitude on August 4, 2012
at 7:55 pm
Perhaps James Bond was modelled on Humphrey.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 4, 2012
at 9:58 pm
I thought that looked like Humphrey Bogart but then I thought, no. Why would they have a statue of Bogart on the roof of a building? But I like it. He’s one of my favorite actors. 🙂
By: Jackie Cangro on August 4, 2012
at 11:28 pm
Why indeed would you have Humphrey on your roof???? They must be extreme fans and have a great sense of humor.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 5, 2012
at 2:54 am
Art Nouveau is my favorite! 🙂
By: hforhelsinki on August 5, 2012
at 11:15 am
You have beautiful Art Nouveau in Helsinki.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 6, 2012
at 12:56 pm
Incredible photography
By: tomjsimpson on August 5, 2012
at 2:59 pm
Thank you.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 6, 2012
at 12:56 pm
Gorgeous buildings! And you capture the details so well Debra 🙂
By: Madhu on August 5, 2012
at 6:24 pm
Antwerp is a beautiful city, we loved our time there.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 6, 2012
at 12:57 pm
Loving the Humphrey Bogart!
By: lazylauramaisey on August 6, 2012
at 8:48 pm
Perhaps you could get one for your house.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 7, 2012
at 9:51 am
I love these buildings and the details are simply gorgeous. I particularly like the “sunflower house”… beautiful, despite the fact that I normally think that “gold” details are too bling-y 🙂
By: Lu on August 7, 2012
at 10:14 am
I love the details on these houses.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 7, 2012
at 11:04 am
I love the architectural details that make cities and neighborhoods unique and certainly one of the unexpected perks of traveling. You caught so many – I’ve bookmarked this post so I can return again to feast my eyes! Thanks, Debra.
By: composerinthegarden on August 8, 2012
at 12:56 pm
Antwerp is a lovely city. We had fun wandering the streets finding beautiful things.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2012
at 10:58 pm
Love this art period. Haven’t ever seen this many buildings in the style. Gorgeous
By: Meg@thelegaltart on August 9, 2012
at 11:33 pm
Antwerp has an excellent selection of Art Nouveau, so does Helsinki.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 10, 2012
at 9:58 am
There’s so little Art Nouveau around in the UK, I think I am putting Antwerp at the top of my travel to list ….
By: Joanna on August 12, 2012
at 10:34 am
You should also go to Helsinki. The city is full of Art Nouveau.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 12, 2012
at 12:18 pm