LIGNE at 60: Brussels Design Across Generations

From celebrated furniture to playful everyday objects, LIGNE marks its 60th anniversary in Brussels’ Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Beneath the glass roof of the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, LIGNE has been catching the eye of passers-by since 1966. Its windows open onto the Galerie du Roi and Galerie du Prince, bringing furniture, lighting and objects into the daily life of the arcade. For its 60th anniversary, the Brussels store brings together familiar designs and smaller discoveries, with room for both a statement chair and an unusual coffee maker.

Founded by Madame Gunzig, LIGNE welcomed Michel Simon in 1972. His daughter Oona, an interior architect, took over in 2021. According to the store, grandchildren of its earliest customers now come here to furnish their own homes. That continuity gives its interest in lasting design a very human dimension.

The Platner collection by Knoll shares the anniversary, celebrating 60 years since its commercial launch. In the dining setting pictured here, slender metal rods form the curved bases of the table and seats. Their open structure gives substantial furniture a surprisingly light appearance.

Another anniversary runs through the selection: the centenary of Verner Panton’s birth. From 19 November, LIGNE’s celebratory installation will feature a gold version of his Panton Chair alongside Vico Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa in silver leather. The chair’s flowing silhouette becomes especially striking in a finish that catches and reflects its surroundings.

Panton’s work also finds a place on a smaller scale. The portable Panthella lamp for Louis Poulsen pairs a rounded shade with a slender, flared base. Listed at €200, it brings a recognisable design to a bedside table or a quiet corner, with a softer outline than the anniversary’s gleaming furniture.

With the Menhir coffee maker for Alessi, Michael Anastassiades gives a familiar kitchen object a sharply defined profile. Its faceted body and angular handle make preparing coffee an occasion to appreciate shape as well as function. Priced at €200, it is a useful object with enough presence to remain on view between cups.

The Ohio crystal vase by Reflections Copenhagen takes a more colourful approach. Its clear upper section sits above an orange base, combining deep cuts, transparency and strong geometry. At €660, it has a sculptural presence of its own, even before flowers enter the picture.

Addison Ross’s Bobbin salt or pepper mill turns another everyday action into a small design moment. The version pictured stacks reflective, rounded forms into a tall silhouette. At €68, it brings an unexpected shape to the dining table without asking for a complete change of décor.

Zuny’s dinosaur bookend adds humour to the shelf. Its rounded body, contrasting belly and pointed plates give a practical support for books a personality of its own. Priced at €80, it sits comfortably within a selection that makes space for playful objects alongside established furniture collections.

The anniversary display begins on 19 November, but LIGNE’s story continues through the choices of its customers. With Oona following Michel, and new generations furnishing their homes, a store known for enduring furniture still leaves room for a dinosaur on the bookshelf.

LIGNE
14 Galerie du Roi, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 am to 6 pm
Anniversary installation from 19 November 2026
www.ligne.be