Georgian Family Buys Protected Ballroom in Sint-Gillis

Why this is here: The Aegidium complex includes a staircase with pink marble paneling, a detail preserved within the historically significant building.

A Georgian family, the Khazaradze family foundation for culture, purchased the protected Aegidium ballroom complex in Sint-Gillis, Belgium. The building, constructed in 1905, features a Moorish-style great hall and a Louis XV ballroom with mirrors. It previously served as a dance hall and cinema, then a community space, before closing in 1985 due to disrepair.

Brussels-based Cohab, which acquired the entire block in 2017, attempted renovations but stalled due to COVID-19, a lack of government, and strained public finances. The Khazaradze foundation, founded by former Georgian businessman Mamuka Khazaradze, intends to restore the ballroom as a cultural center.

The foundation has experience restoring historical sites in Georgia, including churches and monasteries. Detailed plans for the restoration and programming are still being finalized. The project aims to connect Brussels, Tbilisi, and Europe through shared heritage, but the timeline for completion remains open.