11 Art Nouveau Buildings That’ll Make You Fall in Love With the Style
Art Nouveau may go by many different names, but its look is unmistakable. The decorative arts and architecture movement flourished in Europe throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, where it became known as Jugendstil, Stile Liberty, and Szecesszió in Germany, Italy, and Hungary, respectively—all with differing regional takes on the aesthetic. Characterized by curving lines, asymmetry, and a natural, oftentimes botanical motif, the Art Nouveau style marked a notably experimental departure from the traditional Gothic and neoclassical influences across the continent in decades prior. Filled with romantic flair, the style emphasized craftsmanship in response to the industrialization that was quickly becoming dominant at the time. Architects such as Hector Guimard, Antoni Gaudí, and Otto Wagner became famous for their decadent organic-inspired designs, which commonly featured colorful flourishes and detailed iron and glass work. The interiors of Art Nouveau buildings were known for being as ornate as their façades, often decorated with exquisite custom furnishings and hand-painted wall treatments. From Barcelona to Budapest, gorgeous examples of Art Nouveau architecture can be found all around the globe. Below, AD has selected 11 Art Nouveau wonders that’ll make you stop, stare, and contemplate.
Photo: Brendan Hunter/Getty Images1/11Majolikahaus, Vienna, Austria
Architect Otto Wagner was a key figure in the reinvention of Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. One of his most beloved works is the Majolikahaus apartment building, which was completed in 1898 and is decorated with a vibrant floral motif. The façade is comprised entirely of ceramic tiles known as majolica.
Photo: agustavop/Getty Images2/11Municipal House, Prague, Czech Republic
The Czech capital is home to a diverse mix of architectural styles. The city’s Old Town area is home to a number of Romantic Gothic buildings as well as world-famous Baroque structures like the Clam-Gallas Palace, an 18th-century concert venue that hosted the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. But among these older builds are shining examples of Art Nouveau architecture like the Municipal House, also known as Obecní Dům, which opened its doors in 1912. It was erected on the site where the Royal Court Palace once stood (the residence for the King of Bohemia from 1383 to 1485) before its demolition. A mosaic beneath the central archway by the artist Karel Špillar is entitled Homage to Prague.
Photo: Yvan Travert/Getty Images3/11Agoudas Hakehilos Synagogue, Paris, France
One of the preeminent practitioners of Art Nouveau in Paris was Hector Guimard, who is perhaps best known for his ironwork entrances to the city’s Métro. Situated in the Marais district, Guimard’s Agoudas Hakehilos Synagogue (also referred to as Synagogue de la rue Pavée) was built in 1913 and features an exterior motif inspired by the Ten Commandments.
Photo: Will Perrett/Getty Images4/11Hungarian State Treasury Building, Budapest, Hungary
Ödön Lechner, the architect behind Budapest’s State Treasury Building, is known as “the Hungarian Gaudí.” It’s no small task to craft a structure that stands out in a city with revered architectural marvels dating back to the 13th century, but the vibrant green roof and glinting gold accents of the Treasury Building make it a jewel of Budapest’s Art Nouveau scene. Originally called the Hungarian Postal Savings Bank, the building opened its doors in 1901. Flowers that nod to the Hungarian style of embroidery are incorporated into the façade’s design. Lechner’s other famous structures in the Hungarian capital city include the Geological Institute Building and the Museum of Applied Arts, all erected around the turn of the century.
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Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images5/11Albert Street, Riga, Latvia
The Latvian city of Riga is celebrated for its astonishing amount of Art Nouveau buildings. One of its most prolific designers was Russian-born Mikhail Osipovich Eisenstein, who devised a number of these structures, including many of the highly ornamented apartment buildings on Albert Street.
Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images6/11Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur, Turin, Italy
The Italian variation of Art Nouveau architecture is known as Stile Liberty, a phrase derived from London’s famed Liberty & Co. store, whose founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was known for stocking ornate decorative pieces imported from China and Japan. Nonetheless, the term is an accurate descriptor for the expressive nature of Italy’s Art Nouveau buildings, like Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur in the Piedmontese capital of Turin. Standing four stories tall at the corner of Corso Francia and Via Principi d’Acaja, the historic home was constructed between 1902 and 1903 by Italian Art Nouveau pioneer Pietro Fenoglio, originally conceived as a studio and residence for the architect and his family. The floral adornments and curving wrought-iron details along its exterior have made Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur a Stile Liberty showpiece.
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Photo: Visions Of Our Land/Getty Images7/11The Secession Building, Vienna, Austria
Designed by architect Joseph Maria Olbrich, the white cubic building was constructed as an exhibition hall for the artists and designers of the Secessionist movement. The structure, which opened in 1898, is topped with a distinctive dome of gilt wrought-iron laurel leaves.
Photo: GTW/Getty Images8/11Lavirotte Building, Paris, France
Paris’s seventh arrondissement boasts some of the city’s most famous examples Art Nouveau architecture, particularly along the façades of Avenue Rapp, home to the Lavirotte Building. Named for its architect Jules Lavirotte, the apartment was built between 1899 and 1901, with winding botanical detailing as well as tiles by the ceramicist Alexandre Bigot along the exterior. The building took the top spot in Paris’s 1901 façade contest. References to Adam and Eve can be spotted in the seven-story structure’s elaborately rendered entryway.
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Photo: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images9/11The Old England Building, Brussels, Belgium
Designed by architect Paul Saintenoy, the Old England building was constructed in 1899 and is considered one of Brussels’s Art Nouveau gems. The former department store now houses the Museum of Musical Instruments. Fittingly, the exterior is adorned with multiple panels showing musical phrases, as well as the standard Art Nouveau touches such as a floral motif and swirling iron details.
Photo: imageBROKER/Angela to Roxel/Getty Images10/11Jubilee Synagogue, Prague, Czech Republic
Also known as Jerusalem Synagogue, Viennese architect Wilhelm Stiassny combined a number of bold colors and eye-catching patterns in the 1906 structure’s façade. Named in honor of the silver Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Stiassny wove influences from Art Nouveau design in with elements of Moorish Revival style to bring the vibrant house of worship to life. A rose window beneath a bright blue arch bears a gold Star of David, which serves as the building’s centerpiece.
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Photo: Jon Bower/Apexphotos/Getty Images11/11Casa Batlló, Barcelona, Spain
Gaudí brought his exuberant take on Art Nouveau to Barcelona, creating many of the city’s architectural landmarks. Casa Batlló, situated on the Passeig de Gràcia, is one of his best-known works and features allusions to the legend of St. George and the dragon. Its exterior is sheathed in colorful pieces of broken ceramics, while the roof is covered in scalelike tiles.
