The Forest town hall

After a complete renovation that lasted 10 years, the Forest municipal hall finally opens its doors to us! A major work by the Forest architect Jean-Baptiste Dewin, the municipal hall was inaugurated in 1938 after 3 years of work and 10 of discussions. It is an important project for Dewin who realized at the same time the Saint-Pierre de Bruxelles hospital. Designed in the Art Déco style, the Forest municipal hall bears an obvious affiliation with the Stoclet palace, notably through the off-center tower, pierced with long vertical bays and adorned with sculptures. His design of the municipal hall is turned towards modernity while paying homage to the prestigious buildings of the past. Thus, the choice of materials (brick and blue stone), the high tower, the abundance of sculptures evoke medieval municipal halls. But the color of the bricks, the shape of the tower, the renewed iconography of the sculptures are, themselves, very modern. The Art Déco style is magnified here, the sculptures and bas-reliefs are made by great artists including Victor Rousseau. The stained glass windows are creations of Gaston Baltus executed by Florent Colpaert. Inside, the monumental staircase leads to the wedding hall, as well as to the vast ticket hall. A majestic belfry dominates the whole, with its gold-leaf statues that recall those of the Palais Stoclet. This very successful renovation is now visible to all.