A diverted vocation:
from scenario writer to architect
- Francis Bonaert, husband of Gilda de Laubespin, wanted to become a scenario writer. His parents redirected him to become an architect, a less hazardous trade.
- Francis consoled himself by becoming an excellent photo hobbyist; an art which enabled him to feed his family during the war.
- He excelled so much in building modern style constructions (Reformed Church in Brussels) as "American Colonial" style inspired villas.
- However, his war-horse was the restoration of the old monuments as architect of Historic Buildings. In this function, he restored Freÿr from 1967 to 1973.
- A dangerous trade as he experienced when a roof scaffold at the castle of Braine collapsed. The slater fell 12 meters lower and was instantaneously dead. Francis managed to clutch himself to a bar tightening his fists until a ladder was placed so that he could go down.
