La Villa Paquebot
Made in Knokke
Make it stand out
As a popular seaside resort on the Belgian coast, Knokke has its own Golden Square, a famous area where the historical villas of the Zoute have been anchored for a century. Hubert Bonnet's villa may have the right address, but it is not one of the most spectacular. Hidden behind a thick hedge, its 1930s architecture honors the canons of the time: white plaster walls and red brick baseboards in unison with the flat tile roof, and a rounded door to break the straight lines of the windows. Inside, another story begins, fluid and luminous thanks to the large windows opening onto the garden, where a circle of white stones stands on the green grass. It is the work of Richard Long, a master of land art and a supporter of the minimalist art dear to the owner. Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Hubert Bonnet has just had the Villa Paquebot restored, a modernist holiday home built in Knokke in 1936 by the architect Louis Herman De Koninck. The Knokke-born businessman and art collector lives in Switzerland. "It's a folly, but I couldn't let an opportunity like this pass me by." "When I bought this villa ten years ago, everything was derelict. The frame was even visible in some places," says this businessman, who is active in real estate and finance and whose family owned the Forges de Clabecq. Born in Knokke, raised between Belgium and Switzerland, with a master's degree in management from the University of Dallas, Hubert Bonnet quickly plunged into active life. "My mother was a real businesswoman, and she showed me the way. I was 23 years old when she passed away in 1996, and I immediately took over from her," says this racy young man.
