RESEARCH CENTRE
The research centre of the Design Museum Brussels collects and preserves documentary resources on:
- Plastic design from after the Second World War to the present day
- Belgian design from the early 20th century to the present day
The library
The library includes monographies and books on figures and movements of product, interior and graphic design, as well as museal and commercial publications and catalogues. A selection of books dedicated to plastics and their application in design along with many specialized magazines such as Domus, Abitare and A+ among others are also available for consultation.
The archives
Our archival collections are divided into a series of funds: the Fonds Philippe Decelle – Plasticarium, which traces the history of the museum’s plastic design collection; the Fonds Christophe Gevers, the Fonds Baucher-Feron and the Fonds Zéphir Busine, all focused on the history of Belgian design.
FONDS PHILIPPE DECELLE – PLASTICARIUM
Before arriving at the Design Museum Brussels, most of the objects preserved and shown here were part of the Plasticarium. This collection, started in 1987 and curated by Belgian engineer, artist and collector Philippe Decelle (1948) forms the basis of the Plastic Design Collection.
An anthology within itself, the information gathered in the archives presents different perspectives and gives the opportunity to rediscover the collection and its history through a different narration. Currently going through a digitization process, the variety of documents and catalogues illustrate how Philippe Decelle constituted not only the collection, but also a network to stay up to date with the design world throughout the years. The archive illustrates the history of the former Plasticarium as well as offering information on the plastic industrial design pieces in the collection.
FONDS CHRISTOPHE GEVERS
Christophe Gevers (1928-2007), born in Antwerp, was a self-taught craftsman, with no formal training in interior design. He attended a technical arts and crafts school, where he learned technical drawing, woodworking, steel and blacksmithing. After moving to Brussels in the early 1950s, he was significantly influenced by Florence Knoll’s creations, from which he developed his own approach and personal sensibility. Working on his first major project in that same decade, alongside with his teaching at Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de la Cambre, his notoriety continued to grow in Belgium.
The Fonds Christophe Gevers contains various projects by Christophe Gevers throughout his career as a designer, as well as personal documents (photographs, letters). This fund also consists of a substantial collection of mock-up models of the designer’s projects.
FONDS BAUCHER-FERON
Sylvie Feron (1898-1984) and René Baucher (1902-1983) were a French-Belgian designer couple mostly known for their interior design work. Sylvie Feron, born in Belgium, specialized in paintings and textiles, while also working with ceramics, jewelry and furniture. René Baucher, born in France, focused his work on interior design, sculpture and textiles as well as paintings. Together, the couple opened their studio in Paris in 1925, followed by a move to Belgium in 1929 and a Brussels store in 1941. The Baucher-Feron interior design store remained in activity until the early 1980s.
The Fonds Baucher-Feron contains various original projects authored, individually or together, by the couple throughout the years. Personal documents such as photographs, letters and notes, amongst others, can also be found. This is a new addition to the Design Museum Brussels’ research centre, so please keep in mind that this fund is still in the process of triage and conditioning and not all pieces are available for consultation yet.
FONDS ZÉPHIR BUSINE
Zéphir Busine (1916-1976) attended art school, which developed his diverse background on arts and crafts, such as woodwork and painting. His work reflected his background in more ways than one, with religion and liturgy playing as central of a role as techniques. Initially working with painting, decorative art and illustration, with time and new opportunities, his work developed and changed into a more design focused portfolio, featuring stained glass, glassware and pieces of graphic design.
The Fonds Zéphir Busine contains various project documentation, illustrations, drafts, amongst others, all authored by Zéphir Busine throughout his career as a designer, as well as personal documents (photographs, letters, documentation). This is a new addition to the Design Museum Brussels’ research centre, so please keep in mind that this fund is still in the process of triage and conditioning and not all pieces are available for consultation yet.
Practical information
The library and the archives are accessible for scientific purposes, only on site and by appointment, from Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 am. to 4pm.
For any inquiries regarding our collections and research centre, please contact us at [email protected].
To ensure the best possible welcome, we invite you to contact us by email to arrange an appointment, indicating the scope of your research and the documents you wish to consult, so that we can prepare them for your visit. Please note that the research centre is not accessible on weekends, and that a minimum of 5 working days should be allowed between your initial contact and our response.
Our staff will be happy to assist you during your research and guide you if necessary.