As Cologne's first foreign cultural institution after World War II, the Belgian House opened its doors in 1950. Until its closure in 2015, the address at Cäcilienstraße 46 served as a distinguished venue for economic and cultural exchange: the Belgian General Consulate's administrative offices were housed in the "Maison Belge," and over six decades it hosted inspiring exhibitions and events. Iconic brands such as Citroën, Belgian airline Sabena, and national tourism boards maintained small representative offices there, while two restaurants operated by Belgian military forces became culinary insider tips throughout the city. Following years of vacancy and debate, a change in ownership brought new commitment from the Cologne-based Reissdorf family to preserve the building as a cultural meeting place. After comprehensive renovation and restoration of the heritage-protected structure by Trübenbach Architekten of Cologne, it reopened in 2020 as the new interim location of the Romano-Germanic Museum.

The five-story corner building with its restrained tuff stone façade was designed in 1949/50 by Johannes Schüller in the rather conservative aesthetic of the Stuttgart School. The Cologne architect, who had participated in reconstruction efforts in occupied Belgian territories during World War I and spent the Nazi period in Brussels with his Belgian wife, was well-connected throughout the neighboring country. The lavish interior design—featuring Belgian black and red marble floors, noble woods from the Congo, and a refined blend of diverse stylistic influences—came from Cologne interior designer Hans Hansen. The eclectic style mix was partly driven by the difficulties encountered in importing building materials. It only became public after the building's completion that the developer had avoided paying import duties on these materials. Research has since revealed that much of the project funding came largely from illegal black market trade in coffee and cigarettes—a common practice in the scarcity economy before currency reform.

During the renovation and restoration work, all non-load-bearing interior walls on every floor were removed, allowing the concrete skeleton to be fully exposed. After installing new building systems—climate control, fire detection, alarm systems, and electrical infrastructure—an entirely new spatial layout was created while preserving the historic ceremonial hall and library in their original functions. A complete modern museum operation—including museum shop, exhibition spaces, offices, and archive—was integrated into 2,900 m². The existing interior finishes were preserved to the greatest extent possible and meticulously restored in accordance with heritage conservation standards. Those wishing to see the results for themselves are invited not only to visit the museum but also to explore the book "Belgian House" published by Buchhandlung Walther König: photographs by photographer Candida Höfer from 1989 and 2019 invite comparative viewing.

www.truebenbach-architekten.de
www.roemisch-germanisches-museum.de

Photos:
Palladium Photodesign
Barbara Burg & Oliver Schuh
www.palladium.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne 03|21)