Each year, the IRPA launches a competition to raise public awareness of the beauties of Belgian heritage that need to be saved. A selection of major buildings or works that require restoration are pre-selected and submitted to public vote.
This year, the competition is launched on October 21, 2025, and the restoration of the China Houses exterior lighting fixtures is part of the selection.
For the non-profit organization China House and the Countries of the Silk Roads to win the IRPA Heritage Challenge prize, it needs to obtain the highest possible number of preference votes between October 21, 2025, and … February 2026.
Be supporters of this challenge!
You just need to vote for the China House on challengepatrimoine.be or click on the QR code.
But why Were They Destroyed?
Upon completion of the China House and its annexes in 1910, the site was surrounded by eight magnificent bronze lighting fixtures topped with sculpted globes. Over time, and due to lack of maintenance, these lighting fixtures no longer illuminated the surroundings of the China House and were eventually savagely sawn off at their base. When and why: a mystery, but what a shame! While almost all of their posts have disappeared, their glass globes and sculpted supports were fortunately found in the palace cellars. It is therefore possible to restore them, and for this purpose, the non-profit organization China House and the Countries of the Silk Roads is launching a public subscription. Each lighting fixture requires an amount of €50,000 for its restoration and reinstallation. The names of subscribers will be mentioned on copper plaques affixed to the posts of the lighting fixtures. They will also be listed among the founding members of the Circle of Friends of the China House and the Countries of the Silk Roads. Thus, and thanks to them, these beautiful lighting fixtures will be able to regain their splendor upon the reopening of the Chinese Pavilion, scheduled for autumn 2028.
Subscribers benefit from a tax reduction granted via the King Baudouin Foundation. Donations can therefore be made to the King Baudouin Foundation account:
BE10 0000 0000 0404
BIC: GEBABEBB
Structured communication : 623/4003/20022
For the benefit of the non-profit organization China House and the Countries of the Silk Roads
Contact and Information
Diane Hennebert, Managing Director of the non-profit organization China House and the Countries of the Silk Roads
Tel: +32 (0)2 475 211661 / diane@chinahouse.be
