Be Manos

Brussels

As the capital of Belgium and the seat of the European Union’s major institutions, Brussels is a cosmopolitan city with multiple international influences, which represent its wealth and its specificity. The city has not always been a very popular tourist destination, and the often inclement weather has had something to do with that, although the renowned Belgian singer and composer, Jacques Brel made poetry out of it: “With a sky so gray that a canal hanged itself…with a sky so gray that it needs to be forgiven…” Nevertheless, Brussels has a great deal to offer thanks to its remarkable architectural heritage and its art nouveau creations of which the city is a leader. Medieval and classical facades stand side by side in Brussels’ historical center around the “Grand Place” which has been declared a world heritage by UNESCO. Recently, this lively, active city has also become an important center for European nightlife as witnessed by the impressive number of cafes and restaurants spread throughout the capital.

The Belgian capital’s first boutique hotel

In the former Jewish quarter known as the Triangle, near the Midi train station, the owners of Manos Premier and Mano Stéphanie decided to transform a 1920s building into a totally contemporary luxury design boutique-hotel. The Be Manos, the latest project of the Poulgouras family was born “out of a love of family and a family desire,” explains Sylvie Poulgouras, The hotel’s manager. The idea was to design the space as if one was designing a family home and to create an “at home” atmosphere. Two and a half years of research were needed for the family threesome to gather together the objects, materials and colors that would compose the background of the interior décor. To carry out the work, the Poulgouras family commissioned several little known young artists giving them a chance to do something different and make a name for themselves. “When you look around, you quickly realize that we didn’t want the typical flashy multi-colored hotel type. Basically speaking, there were no big names or brands involved; only small brands and small creators,” according to Constantin Poulgouras, assistant manager of the hotel. Although the interioors are in black and white, the common areas contain warm tones and colors.

Numerous photographs in the form of portraits decorate the walls of the hotel. Most of the faces and silhouettes are friends and acquaintances of the family who agreed to be part of this special photo project, the concept of which was to create the impression of a living gallery.