Gustave Strauven (1878 – 1919) A protégé of Victor Horta who worked on Hôtel van Eetvelde and the Maison du Peuple in Brussels.
He subsequently worked on his own projects, particularly in Brussels. His best known work is the Saint-Cyr House
The Saint-Cyr House is Strauven’s most important building, built between 1901 and 1903 in the Art Nouveau style but, perhaps, rather more flamboyant than Horta. It was built to serve as a private residence of the painter George Léonard de Saint-Cyr. The house is situated at 11, square Ambiorix in the Squares Quarter, quite close to the Hotel Van Eetvelde. It occupies a very narrow plot being only 4 metres wide.
The facade is entirely covered by polychrome bricks and has a good deal of wrought iron, which is adorned with geometric motifs and ornate balustrades at each floor. The wrought iron mimics vegetation and the decorative elements occupy all the space available. Due to its extravagance, the building has been called Art Nouveau-Baroque. The interior is characterised by different styles, varying according to the rooms.