It was designed by the architect Octave van Rysselberghe for the jurist, bibliographer and entrepreneur Paul Otlet, and built between 1894 and 1898, in Art Nouveau style.

The façade has a turbulent appearance, which results from the abandonment of symmetry and the interplay of incoming and outgoing volumes, and which is tempered by an impression of unity conferred by the horizontal lines of the basement and the cornice.

These façades offer a subtle interplay of volumes (bow window, oriel, cubicles, balcony, loggia and porch), asymmetrical in their shape, their layout and the number of their bays.

The door is surmounted by a stained glass window in orange, green and black tones, also featuring floral motifs characteristic of Art Nouveau.

The centrepiece of its interior design, a stained glass window with a floral motif separates the living room from the grand staircase while providing the latter with additional light.