Villa Kykhill

Perched above De Panne, facing the North Sea, this villa enjoys an exceptional location. In the heart of the sought-after Dumont district, it lies a 5-minute walk from the town centre’s amenities, a 10-minute walk from the beach and restaurants, and a 6-minute drive from the village of Sint-Idesbald, renowned for its gourmet shops.

A seaside resort famed for its beautiful stretch of fine sand, its popular culture, and year-round activities, De Panne offers a wealth of leisure pursuits: water sports (sand yachting, kitesurfing, boating, paddleboarding), horse riding, tennis, golf, fishing, or hiking across the 565 hectares of the Westhoek nature reserve.

Situated right next to the French border, De Panne is 2 hours by train from Paris via Dunkirk (a 20-minute drive between Dunkirk station and De Panne), 2 hours from Brussels, and 1 hour from Lille by car.

A cabinetmaker and decorator by training, Georges Hobé conceived this villa as one of his first architectural works. The project took on an experimental character for him, drawing inspiration from the spirit and achievements of the Anglo-Saxon Arts and Crafts movement, which had captivated him during a trip to England. The building presents a façade defined by the harmonious dialogue of green half-timbering, mullioned windows, and white brickwork. The rustic, enveloping charm of this cottage—perfectly integrated into the landscape—reveals an exploration of geometry not without a certain sophistication. The overhanging corner volumes, the lines and edges of the roof, and the variations in the shapes and dimensions of the openings create a dynamic composition that reinterprets the traditional codes of architecture.

Inside, the atmosphere is warm, thanks to the omnipresence of elm and pitch pine, an exotic wood from Latin America with rich, warm tones, used here at every scale. Every detail (joinery, door handles, built-in storage) reflects a “modern” vision, combining simplicity and efficiency in the pursuit of domestic comfort. The treatment of the corner furniture and the built-in bench (restored identically), which quite literally follow the architecture, lends depth to the living spaces while creating subtle perspectives onto the surrounding landscape.

Guided by a spirit of synthesis between the arts, this attention to detail, paired with an emphasis on craftsmanship, anchors Villa Kykhill in the history of architectural modernity.

At the end of the 19th century, the Dumont district was a vibrant hub of artistic exchange among painters, architects, and poets, at the crossroads of Flanders, England, and France. An artistic bourgeoisie flourished there, in a popular Flemish atmosphere, their presence then marked by a flag.

Strongly influenced by the Anglo-Norman cottage style of its residences, Dumontwijk retains its charm and vitality to this day.

Georges Hobé (1854–1936) came to architecture late, as a self-taught practitioner. Villa Kykhill, built for himself and his family, is among his earliest works. It was through his decorative ensembles that he first gained an international reputation, notably thanks to his participation in exhibitions such as the Salon de la Libre Esthétique in Brussels (1895), the Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin (1902), and the Milan World’s Fair (1906).

From 1905 onwards, he received public commissions as an architect, undertaking major projects such as the Namur Casino as well as villas in the fashionable seaside resorts of the Belgian coast. His work is characterised by a synthesis of simplicity and functionality. He was appointed urban architect for the town of De Panne alongside Albert Dumont, contributing to the development of the resort (tramway, villas, and more) with a strong regard for the landscape and the site’s natural layout.