Grand-Hornu

About

In 1810, Henri De Gorge conceptualized the ideal city, where workers could enjoy a standard of living that was unheard of at the time. He oversaw the construction of this monumental Neoclassical complex, with 450 spacious homes, complete with hot water and gardens, a school, library, dance hall, shops, and dispensary. After the mine closed in 1954, the site lay abandoned until the 1990s when it reopened as a museum. In honor of Henri De Gorge, who spent his entire life innovating, rather than a mining museum, it became home to Grand-Hornu Images, a museum focused on design and the applied arts. Later, the engineering building was restored, and now houses the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s museum of contemporary art collections. Rather than showcase the masters of contemporary art, the 300 works by 150 Belgian and international artists look at current trends, and maintain a close connection with the site itself.