Maniera design gallery moves to historical Villa Danckaert

Designs by Rooms at Maniera's new Brussels outpost

(Image credit: Jeroen Verrecht)

Brussels design gallery Maniera has been promoting design works by architects and designers for almost a decade, since its founding in 2014 by Amaryllis Jacobs and Kwinten Lavigne. Working with the likes of Studio Mumbai, Piovenefabi, Christ and Gantenbein and Christoph Hefti, the gallery has been a regular presence at international design events, meanwhile offering design exhibitions across the city and in its central gallery space.

In March 2023, Maniera unveils its new location; an art deco, 1920s villa in the heart of Brussels, which becomes the starting point for the gallery's next chapter. The villa was designed by Belgian architect Jean-Baptiste Dewin for industrial engineer Jean Danckaert. The house's interiors and decorations were created by the Ateliers d’Art De Coene.

&lsquo;Lazy Pillows&rsquo; by Lukas Gschwandtner in the dining room at Maniera Gallery at Villa Danckaert — ‘Lazy Pillows’ by Lukas Gschwandtner in the dining room

Maniera's inaugural show at Villa Danckaert takes over the house's front rooms and veranda, its central feature a piece from the ‘Pillow Talks’ series by Lukas Gschwandtner, juxtaposing steel platforms and structures with large pillows in off-white painter’s canvas.

Elsewhere, a room is dedicated to Georgia-based design studio Rooms, a new addition to the gallery's roster and showing here some of its best-known collections as it works on the development of new pieces for Maniera.

Maniera gallery at Villa Danckaert — Lighting by Stéphane Barbier Bouvet and an aluminium table by Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen in the house's kitchen

The house’s kitchen becomes the gallery's office, adorned with lighting by Stéphane Barbier Bouvet and an aluminium table by Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen – a nod to the space's utilitarian past.

Among the villa's distinctive features is a rose garden (like the building, listed as a heritage site), which Jacobs and Lavigne hope eventually to open up to the local and design communities, as well as transform into a backdrop to their exhibitions.

Hotel Maniera, inaugural group show is on display until 6 May 2023

Villa Danckaert
Rue Meyerbeer 33
1190 Forest, Belgium

maniera.be

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.