Museums of the Far East

Welcome to one of the most unexpected and visually arresting corners of Brussels. As we stand here on the edge of the Royal Domain of Laeken, we find ourselves transported from the heart of Europe to the aesthetics of the Far…

The Japanese Tower is the most prominent feature of this ensemble, standing as a forty-meter-high beacon of orientalist architecture. Its origins lie in the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where King Leopold the Second was…

Just a short walk from the Japanese Tower sits the Chinese Pavilion, another commission by Leopold the Second that speaks to his commercial and aesthetic interests in the Far East. Built between 1901 and 1910, the pavilion was…

The true beauty of the Museums of the Far East lies in the details. As we examine the woodwork of both the tower and the pavilion, we can see a rich tapestry of Eastern symbolism. …

Connecting these magnificent structures is a garden that was designed to harmonize the diverse architectural styles. Known as a garden of 'three cultures,' it attempts to blend Japanese, Chinese, and European landscape traditions. …

The third major component of this complex is the Museum of Japanese Art, housed in a building that was originally the stables and service quarters for the Japanese Tower. Despite its humble beginnings as a utilitarian structure,…

As we reach the final part of our walk around the Museums of the Far East, we must address the current state of these buildings. For several years, the interiors have been closed to the public due to significant structural and…

Our journey through the Museums of the Far East brings us to a moment of reflection on the power of architecture to transport and transform. These buildings were the result of a King's desire to curate a global experience within…