René Ajoux was a Belgian architect and interior designer who was active mainly in Brussels during the inter-war period. He trained at the drawing school in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and developed a career that combined architecture, interior design and the design of cafés, cinemas and other public spaces.
Among his works are his own modernist houses, several café interiors and a number of cinemas. His work in entertainment architecture demonstrates his particular interest in the relationship between architecture, interior design and atmosphere.
During the 1930s, Ajoux developed an individual form of Modernism. Rather than following a strictly functionalist approach, he combined rational planning and modern construction techniques with curved forms, carefully chosen materials and an emphasis on atmosphere and comfort. A contemporary article in the architectural journal Bâtir particularly emphasised his search for architectural “charm”.
Ajoux's work illustrates the diversity of Belgian Modernism in the 1930s. His buildings combined the modern ideals of functionality, comfort and new construction techniques with a more expressive and human approach to architectural form.
Sources
Buildings
Brussels (Bruxelles), Belgium
Cascade