An affluent…
seaside town on the Belgian coast, bordering the Netherlands, Knokke exudes a quiet glamour rooted in relaxation and rejuvenation. In the 1950s, this luxurious yet understated destination welcomed icons such as Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Edith Piaf, and the surrealist artist René Magritte, whose large-scale mural still graces the walls of the Grand Casino and stands as a testament to the town’s artistic legacy.
Today, Knokke has lost none of its charm, as it continues to captivate visitors with its blend of natural beauty and cultural sophistication. Fringed by dunes, salt marshes, and wide-open plains, the area is a haven for flora and fauna, offering both serenity and scenic splendor. Its refined atmosphere and enduring allure make it one of Belgium’s most chic and beloved coastal destinations.
Amid this…
elegant backdrop, the VC House emerges as a modern retreat that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. Designed by Ghent-based architect Simon de Burbure, the home embodies a serene, contemplative space—an understated sanctuary inspired by the surrounding environment and landscape.
“I designed the VC House to feel like a quiet retreat,” says Ghent-based architect Simon de Burbure. He founded his eponymous firm at the age of 34, and it has since become one of Belgium’s most renowned names in grand, graceful design projects with a sleek Brutalist twist. Among his most notable accomplishments are the renovation of a sprawling 16th-century estate in Bruges and a listed farmhouse in Ghent—projects that showcase his ability to balance historical reverence with bold, contemporary aesthetics.
De Burbure also draws inspiration from the colors and rhythms of the surrounding landscape, which he considers a guiding light in shaping spaces that feel both grounded and serene.
Built on…
a plateau and framed by woodland on one side and a private golf course on the other, the 1,200 m² VC House boasts a layered architectural structure. Its limestone base anchors the building firmly to the land, rising into a wooden framework punctuated by expansive glass windows. These open spaces reach upward toward a majestic, red-tiled sloping roof, endowing the home with a low, elongated profile inspired by the linear plains of the Flemish landscape.
The living room…
features a curated mix of vintage Art Deco and modern bespoke furniture, featuring pieces from the Belgium-based De Coen workshop, which has been in operation since 1887. Enhancing the room’s rich textures are custom linen curtains by Verilin—a textile specialist founded in 1956 and based in Kortrijk, West Flanders—and handmade rugs by the Belgian company JOV Design.
A monolithic stone sideboard by Potier Stone, a fourth-generation atelier renowned for its sculptural forms, seamless joints, and precise color matching, grounds the space both visually and materially.
The Potier Stone…
team behind key furniture pieces in the living room has extended its expertise throughout the home, crafting bold partitions and blocky forms—particularly in the kitchen—that evoke a sense of history and rootedness. This deliberate contrast enhances the light, airy ambiance of the surrounding spaces.
A representative from Potier Stone explains, “With Muschelkalk, a (limestone) known for its inherent variation, we focused on selecting a consistent tone and texture that would flow seamlessly throughout the home.”
An expertly…
designed staircase offers a sculptural solution to a compact space, transforming a purely functional element into an artistic statement. A sinuous, low banister in untreated open grain wood traces the curves of the surrounding walls, echoing their play of shapes and shadows with graceful fluidity.
The interplay…
between the natural materiality of stone and wood found on the ground floor and grand staircase is further accentuated on the first floor, where the bedroom and bathroom spaces are designed to deepen the connection to nature. In the bathroom, walls are half-clad in textured marble and half in light wood vertical boards, creating a transportive, spa-like quality.
Belgium-based…
lighting design brand Prado, which specializes in invisible technology, has installed discreet switches, plugs, and mini lights throughout the home, allowing visual emphasis to fall on textiles, patterns, and statement furnishings such as a dramatic brass Arrow ceiling light by Apparatus, a felted wool handspun rug by JOV, a set of Miyazaki chairs, and an asymmetric table sourced from Knokke-based luxury furniture specialist RR Interieur.
The basement…
crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail as the living spaces, features limestone surrounds and a hand-laid cobblestone floor, creating a stylish environment for the garage, wine cellar, and poolhouse. This grounding element complements the home’s discreet luxury, nestled within a thoughtfully designed landscape of pine, hawthorn hedges, silver birch, and poplar trees—a superb hotel-like retreat where refined design seamlessly blends with natural serenity.
Tap the look…
Architecture & Design: Simon de Burbure Architects
Photography: Thomas De Bruyne @cafeine
