Commissioned by Maurice Colman and completed in 1931, Villa Westhinder was designed by the Belgian architect Henry Van de Velde, one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau in Belgium alongside Victor Horta and Paul Hankar. Located in Knokke-le-Zoute on the Belgian coast, the villa reflects the influence of the International Style and the Bauhaus movement through its flat roof, horizontal lines, modular composition and restrained geometric forms. Introducing a new modernist way of living to the Belgian seaside, it remains a landmark of early modern architecture.

For this exhibition, Objects With Narratives pays homage to the villa’s architectural legacy by bringing together contemporary works that resonate with its defining forms and spatial language. Through the craftsmanship of today’s designers, the exhibition reinterprets the building’s modernist spirit, exploring how contemporary objects can both complement and challenge the architectural identity of this iconic house.

Alongside this architectural dialogue, nature becomes a second protagonist. Set before the dunes of Knokke-le-Zoute, Villa Westhinder is shaped by the ever-present forces of wind and sea. Belgian interior architect Aurélie Penneman’s recent intervention, including a powder-blue kitchen with softly curved edges, reflects the colours and contours of the coastline. Echoing this approach, several works introduce fluid, wave-like forms that soften the villa’s precise geometry, creating a conversation between architecture and landscape.
This relationship was one Van de Velde anticipated. With its flat roof, sweeping horizontal lines and railings, Villa Westhinder evokes the silhouette of an ocean liner—a defining motif of the International Style and a fitting tribute to its coastal setting.