Victor Horta’s Hôtel Tassel: The symbolism of the glasshouse and vegetal life

Victor Horta’s Hôtel Tassel (1893–1895) stands as a pioneering work in architecture, blending symbolic depth with innovative design. The study reveals that the building’s interior—particularly its sky-lit staircase and vegetal motifs—encapsulates a broader 19th-century environmental consciousness, drawing from glasshouse aesthetics, evolving scientific views of nature, and masonic symbolism. While Horta contributed his architectural expertise, client Émile Tassel, a scientist, anchored the design in contemporary biological theories and artistic interpretations of nature, especially those inspired by 'Far Eastern' influences. This interplay between architecture, science, and art underscores how the Hôtel Tassel transcends its time, embodying poetic communion with natural forces.

Guxholli, Aniel. (2020). Victor Horta’s Hôtel Tassel: The symbolism of the glasshouse and vegetal life [McGill University]. https://doi.org/10.82308/44333