Vertical view of interior of Solvay Library in Brussels featuring a gigantic hall in eclectic style with precious-wood décor and bookshelves, an upstairs balcony area, mosaics and coloured stained glass windows. A woman crossing the hall adds a dimension of the place.
The Solvay Library, the magnificent setting of the former Institute of Sociology, was created under the impulse of Ernest Solvay and built by the architects Constant Bosmans and Henri Vandeveld. Inaugurated in 1902, the Solvay Institute of Sociology is one of the most prestigious remains of the Leopold Park. Abandoned and vandalized for several years, this listed building was restored to its former glory in 1995 after a restoration campaign led by the architects Deleuze and Metzger. After having hosted researchers from all over the world, it is now a place for private and cultural events.