Introduction

Among the most compelling examples of Belgian residential modernism, the Maison des Terrasses stands as a rare architectural synthesis of technical innovation and minimalist elegance. Designed in 1935 by the Belgian architect Raphaël Delville, this residence exemplifies the Streamline Moderne style—a late iteration of Art Deco that fused functionality with fluid, aerodynamic aesthetics. Situated at Avenue de l’Échevinage 16 in the Brussels municipality of Uccle, Maison des Terrasses is globally recognized for its sculptural use of volume, horizontal emphasis, and precise material execution.

Historical Context: European Modernism and the Rise of Streamline Moderne

Emerging during the fertile design climate of the 1930s, Delville’s Maison des Terrasses is part of a broader ideological shift that rejected ornamental historicism in favor of rational, function-driven design. This movement—coinciding with the Bauhaus in Germany and CIAM in Europe—found regional expressions across the continent. In Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, the Streamline Moderne movement reshaped urban domestic architecture, with houses emphasizing smooth surfaces, curved forms, and unornamented façades.

Constructed at the height of this movement, the Maison des Terrasses responded to technological optimism and a cultural turn toward hygienic, light-filled living environments. The residence reflects Modernist objectives: to integrate new materials, optimize spatial plans, and distill architecture into pure geometric composition.

Design Principles: Modernist Form Language and Functional Clarity

Emphasis on Volume and Line

Delville’s architectural vocabulary in this house is structured around the manipulation of volumes and horizontal bands. The house’s composition features superimposed curves and planar geometries, articulating the organization of internal spaces while creating a visually harmonious whole. The wraparound balconies and fluid transitions across levels embody the aerodynamic ideology of Streamline Moderne—a design idea borrowed from the fields of aviation and industrial design.

Ornament-Free Façades

Consistent with Modernist ethos, Maison des Terrasses is wholly devoid of traditional decoration. Its aesthetic relies on proportion, surface treatment, and geometry rather than surface embellishment. The purity of the white-painted façade further highlights this approach, imbuing the residence with a medical-like clarity that was associated with modern hygiene and progress.

Form Follows Function

Every element in the design serves a function. Balconies and awnings are integrated not merely for visual rhythm but for their role in modulating sunlight, creating shade, and optimizing the use of exterior space. Window arrangements are dictated by views and the solar trajectory—an early example of regional climate responsiveness. This reflects the influence of functionalist design principles championed by contemporaries such as Le Corbusier or Gerrit Rietveld.

Rhythm through Materials and Lighting

Beyond its sculptural form, the building makes strategic use of materials and light. The building’s white plaster rendering provides high reflectivity and creates a pristine, unified external appearance. The curvature of the balconies and the elegant rounded first-floor awning introduce rhythm and variation to the façade, subtly balancing the minimalist approach with a play of shadows and reflections throughout the day.

Construction Techniques and Technical Specifications

Materials and Structure

Maison des Terrasses is built using reinforced concrete, a pioneering material in 1930s residential architecture. This allowed for generous cantilevers and thin curved balcony slabs. The concrete technique enabled Delville to experiment with continuous forms and floating planes, giving the illusion of weightlessness typical of Streamline structures.

Glazing Strategy

A key component is the extensive glazing system—especially corner and strip windows—that maximizes daylight penetration and frames views toward the surrounding urban fabric. This transparency supports visual connectivity with the outdoor terraces, making interior spaces feel fluid and expansive despite the urban plot’s constraints.

Signature Architectural Element: The Round Awning

Perhaps Maison des Terrasses’ most distinctive feature is the round-shaped concrete awning over the first-floor terrace. Beyond aesthetic value, this thin-edge cantilevered element is a technical statement—showcasing engineering precision and acting as a functional extension of the living space beneath it. Structurally ambitious and visually refined, this awning underscores Delville’s mastery in harmonizing design with emerging construction methods.

Dimensional Observations

While exact dimensional data are unavailable, comparative analysis places the residence within a standard mid-size urban Belgian footprint, implying effective use of zoning and plot coverage. Delville’s other works, such as the Tiny Modernist House built on a narrow lot, further highlight his ability to work creatively within spatial limitations, emphasizing vertical and spatial efficiency.

Architectural Significance and Influence

Maison des Terrasses remains a benchmark within the canon of 20th-century residential modernism in Europe. Frequently cited as an avant-garde project, Delville’s design prefigured many elements adopted in post-war residential architecture: expansive windows, open-plan living, and prefabricated construction elements. The house also maintains a direct dialogue with other Brussels-based modernist designs—most notably Louis Herman De Koninck’s Dotremont House, located across the street. Both architects explored the expressive possibility of horizontality, stackable volumes, and functional purity.

Inclusion in regional architectural inventories and conservation discourse confirms its role as an enduring reference point, not just for Belgian architects but for global enthusiasts of Streamline Moderne and early modernism. It speaks to an era when technology, art, and domestic design were deeply entwined.

International Context: Parallels in Modernist Residential Design

The design principles realized in Maison des Terrasses have counterparts in other regions undergoing similar modernist reformations in domestic architecture.

North America

In the United States, architects like Richard Neutra and William Lescaze pursued parallel investigations into light, form, and material innovation. Neutra’s Lovell House (1929)—while built earlier—shares a similar emphasis on rectilinear forms, industrial materials (steel and concrete), and the integration of outdoor terraces. North American homes, however, often benefitted from suburban lot sizes, allowing for more expansive layouts.

Australia

In Australia, mid-century architects including Robin Boyd championed modernist ideals while adapting to unique climatic and cultural conditions. Boyd’s Walsh Street House (1958) uses similar terrace principles and open planning, particularly in response to Melbourne’s sun path and prevailing breezes. Unlike Delville’s urban model, Boyd’s houses elevated cross-ventilation and solar shading using lightweight materials and deep eaves—demonstrating regional responses to similar goals.

Europe

Maison des Terrasses aligns closely with Dutch and French modernist townhouses of the 1930s. Notably, J.J.P. Oud in the Netherlands and Robert Mallet-Stevens in France explored similar sculptural approaches using concrete and ribbon windows. Delville’s work, however, is more firmly rooted in the avant-garde streamline aesthetic, giving it a distinctive character within the pan-European modernist vocabulary.

Educational Insights for Architects, Builders, and Homeowners

1. The Power of Volume over Ornament

Maison des Terrasses illustrates how formal exploration—rather than surface treatment—can generate aesthetic richness. For contemporary architects, this encourages a return to the fundamentals of form: proportion, massing, and light.

2. Concrete Techniques and Structural Strategy

The implementation of curved, cantilevered concrete requires precision in shuttering and reinforcement placement—skills still applicable in today’s custom residential construction. As materials evolve, the spirit of experimental structure remains a key driver in innovative residential design.

3. Maximizing Natural Light and Outdoor Integration

The strategic placement of windows and terraces shows how architectural design can shape human comfort. Even modest-scale houses can create expansive experiences through thoughtful engagement with the environment—be it a garden, balcony, or urban view.

4. Applying White Façades in Contemporary Contexts

The use of white renders emphasizes clarity but requires careful selection of materials in today’s context. Acrylic, mineral, or silicate-based renders provide durability and breathability. Pairing white façades with modern glazing elements ensures energy efficiency while retaining the timeless visual qualities exemplified by Maison des Terrasses.

Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy in Residential Architecture

More than just an architectural artifact, Maison des Terrasses by Raphaël Delville offers enduring lessons for 21st-century designers. Its restrained elegance, attention to environmental factors, and confident embrace of modern materials make it a continual source of inspiration—whether one is planning a new urban infill home, restoring a mid-century gem, or learning from the past to shape the sustainable homes of the future.

For architects, builders, and homeowners alike, Maison des Terrasses is a clarion call to integrate structure, function, and form with intention and integrity—a benchmark not just of Belgian modernism, but of well-conceived residential architecture globally.