The Five Continents for Mariane!

Mariane sent me two pix of the most wonderful house in Antwerp on 2, Schilderstraat, which has always fascinated her...easy to see why. She asked me to find out what I could about it...and here's the info.

This building of "The Five Continents" dates back to 1901. It was built in Art Nouveau style by Frans Smet-Verhas and was commissioned by a rich (and slightly eccentric) ship-owner, P. Rouis, who added a wooden ship's bow to the original design, giving the house its nickname 'The Little Boat' (t' Bootje). It's actually part of a complex of four houses. The loggia above it is decorated with stained-glass windows carrying the names of the different continents.

Another feature which makes this housing complex so interesting is the stepped structure ending in a terrace.

Other characteristics of the houses are the layers of yellow brick, which are typical for Art Nouveau architecture in Antwerp. The exterior contains other nice examples: use of wrought iron and the use of dynamic curved lines in the design. Veeeeery Lavirotte! How's that, Little Me, for a statement of 'Helloooo! I'm heeeere!! Look at me!"

Of the 'Five Continents' all built in 1901, one was destroyed in 1970 and those surviving were declared protected monuments in 1976.

Cool Facts:

• In 1995 A drawing of the Five Continents by the Belgian artist Désiré Roegiest popped it on a postage stamp.

• The balcony is modeled exactly to the indications and measurements of the wooden prow on a sailing ship.

• The Architect Frans Smet-Verhas signed his work in ornate lettering (don't know why that's cool, but the Antwerp Tourist Guide says it is...and who am I to argue)

So, now we know!

Love, Sarah