CURATING ART WITHIN THE LEGACY OF VILLA SOUS TOUS VENT IN KNOKKE-HEIST

Art animates a home, awakening its soul and evoking emotional intimacy. For the newly restored Belgian heritage-listed Villa Sous Tous Vent in Le-Zoute, a few moments from Knokke’s wild coastline, KALPA presents a refined collection of contemporary paintings, bas-reliefs, and sculptures as part of its art consultancy project. Embracing minimalism and non-finito, each art object reflects an intuitive approach to creation and celebrates the practice of contemplation and self-awareness.

A light breeze from the northern shore and the distant cry of seagulls over the waves provide a serene backdrop, enhancing the energy of this historic Villa, built in 1926 by Ghent-based architect Valentin Vaerwyck and once the residence of Belgian modern art painter Albert Saverys. Stemming from a deep desire for harmony between past and present, the recent renovation was led by Maison Osaïn, an Antwerp-based collective for architecture, design, and sensory living, in collaboration with internationally renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf.

Conceived as a sanctuary of retreat, northern light shaping the space is a signature trait of Villa Sous Tous Vent. Natural materials, such as minerals, stone, clay, and wood, are present in the selected artworks and define the home's colour palette, featuring bone, sandstone and pale tones.

The concepts of tactility, stasis, and serenity permeate the entire house, from the subtle architectural nuances to the art objects on display. Guiding the viewer through this journey of discovery are works by ceramicists Akiko Hirai, Yoshimi Futamura, Sabine Pagliarulo, Angela Palmarelli, and Marlies Huybs; wood sculptors Marco Bellini, Marc Ricourt, and Katrien Doms; glass artist and designer Michela Cattai; and multidisciplinary painters Eleanor Herbosch and Annelies Toussaint.

Bespoke compositions, a fluid movement of lines, and ceramic sculptural forms define the spirit of the entire collection. In the Villa’s central open space, Toussaint’s white embroideries, created through the Japanese sashiko technique of knotting on hemp, convey a sense of meditative serenity and profound spirituality, enriching the narrative of the traditional marine element of the knot.

In the sophisticated lounge, Herbosch’s bespoke textural triptych honours the philosophical and art discipline of calligraphy, expressed through a deliberate and rhythmic configuration of brushstrokes. Presenting an abstract landscape, the artist's gestural signs seem to penetrate the canvas, tracing a succession of earthen incisions and light movements, as the ephemeral traces left by the sea upon the sand. 

"Every aspect of our work is imbued with intentionality. Every material, every detail, every element is meticulously chosen to construct not just a house but a home - a place of refuge and inspiration where every corner resonates with purpose."

Unfolding across three floors, the Villa's openings and thresholds are carefully articulated, creating fluid transitions between the interior and the exterior. Nestled within an exclusive enclave, the residence overlooks one of Knokke’s most evocative parks. The spirit of the local beaches, dunes, and salt marshes is captured in the art collection. Nature blossoms in Futamura, Palmarelli and Hirai's abstract compositions, serving as radiant ceramic focal points within the living spaces. This conversation of languages and matter continues with Pagliarulo’s sculptures, where soft, organic porcelain forms are resonant of shells and become feminine archetypes, vessels that suggest a quiet sense of protection and renewal.

On the first floor, a delicate yet powerful work in washi paper by Thüngen-Reichenbach summons an atmosphere of intimacy and warmth, as if suspended within a silent frame between time and space. Drawing from philosophical contrasts in humankind, her work results in a poetic dance of opposites: concave and convex, light and darkness, negative and positive, liquid and solid. Together with the other presented works, this bas-relief transforms the walls into living surfaces, where materiality and atmosphere become an integral part of the home’s daily experience.

The entire collection of art evokes a deep appreciation for natural processes, focusing on the beauty of irregularity and imperfection. Each piece is singular, narrating a distinct story that carries the imprint of the artists' emotions and skills. By accentuating organic junctures, fissures, and raw textures, the artists transform any accidental moment in their creative process into a deliberate poetic expression. Concurrently, the redesign of Villa Sous Tous Vent presents a careful balance between continuity and contemporaneity. The elegance of the original design is preserved, while comfort and a quiet sense of luxury are subtly introduced. 

Click on the image below to discover Villa Sous Tous Vent in a short film:

C R E D I T S :

Photography of the artworks: 

Tijs Vervecken @tijsvervecken, Courtesy of Maison Osaïn and Pui Yi Tam @puipuiphoto for KALPA

Video of the Villa Sous Tous Vent: 

VM Digital Agency, Courtesy of Maison Osaïn

Quote: Maison Osaïn

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