Old England, an Art Nouveau gem

In front of you stands one of the most photographed buildings in Brussels, and it is neither a palace nor a church: it is a shop. Or rather, it was.

1An English shop in Belgian style

Old England was a firm selling British luxury goods to Brussels high society. In 1899 it commissioned its new store from the architect Paul Saintenoy, who chose the style that was all the rage in the city: Art Nouveau. Brussels was then one of its capitals, home to architects such as Victor Horta.

Saintenoy made the most of what iron and glass allowed: a light structure, large windows to light up the displays and a façade of plant-like curves. It was advertising and architecture at the same time.

At the top of the building, the café offers one of the best views over the lower town.

2From store to museum

The store closed and the building spent decades waiting for a new use. Since 2000 it has been the entrance to the Musical Instruments Museum, the MIM, whose collection brings together thousands of pieces from all over the world, from bagpipes to the saxophones of Adolphe Sax, the Belgian inventor of the instrument.

The museum also occupies the neighbouring neoclassical building by Barnabé Guimard, the designer of Place Royale. So two centuries of architecture sit side by side, door to door.

3What to look for

• The “Old England” sign at the top of the façade.
• The iron curves framing the windows.
• The corner turret, a visual beacon along the street.