La Manufacture

In days gone by in this northwest district of the city, Brussels was bustling more than anywhere else: the fair was in full swing. Then, calm and relaxation settled in the streets, so much so that the residents no longer had any reason to go to the chapel to pray to Our Lady for a cure for their insomnia. However, the hustle and bustle did not take long to reassert itself.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a printing press was established at 12-18 rue Notre-dame du Sommeil.
Then, in 1943, the rotary press and inks disappeared to make way for craftsmen and fine leathers: the Delvaux leather shop was to take over these superb premises for more than thirty years. 1990. The Schwennicke family converts the site after a two-year study and one and a half year’s work: the cladding of the building was carried out by a firm of architects from Antwerp, while the interior decoration was designed by the firm, In Store, to create a wonderful ambiance. Woodwork, metal, blue stone, leathers, red granite, parquet laid in the traditional way: a full range of lush materials fit for a building steeped in the past of this capital city.
While the insomniacs may have deserted the ‘rue Notre-dame du Sommeil’, others gladly meet at “la Manufacture” to enjoy moments of awareness where the feast for the eyes is complemented by the pleasure provided for one’s taste buds.