Art Deco, which essentially was an extension of the decorative Art Nouveau, developed in the Twenties, giving rise to the construction of a variety of buildings including the Centre for Fine Arts, private mansions, town houses and even the first apartment buildings. Drawing on multiple different sources of inspiration, the more geometric Art Deco became the epitome of luxury and refinement. This style conveyed the values of a middle class that celebrated its freedom after the unimaginable violence of the Great War. These were the Roaring Twenties, the jazz age, an era marked by a general loosening of morals and movement and speed, with the arrival of trans-Atlantic travel, cars and even the first airplanes.

At the same time, Modernists argued in favour of a more rational, pared down architecture, which allowed for greater freedom of style and which was more likely also to meet the pressing demand for more housing after the war.

This book discusses the personality of several key architects through a variety of architectural programmes, as well as giving an overview of an exciting era and offering readers some keys to identify the heritage that lines the streets of Brussels.