Old England department store

The Old England department store was a large retailer in downtown Brussels, partially housed in the Art Nouveau building constructed by Paul Saintenoy, who was strongly influenced by the architecture of Victor Horta and Paul Hankar.

Using a steel superstructure, Saintenoy negotiated the rather narrow lot that sloped significantly and curved along the line of the street, designing a six-storey building that used the main fa�ade balanced around a projecting central oriel bay itself crowned by a high arched attic. The building’s expansive curtain walls of glass over the entire fa�ade maximise the influx of natural light. The octagonal oriel tower at the northwest corner of the building begins on the third floor and terminates in a lacy steel pergola that uses the structural frame of a cupola’s spire.

After Old England moved out in 1972, the building was bought by the Belgian government. By 2009, a thorough restoration was completed. The building is one of the best examples of the Art Nouveau style in Brussels; it houses today the Musical Instruments Museum.