“Silt Middelkerke” Venue Building

Conceived as an upside-down wicker basket resting on its North Sea shore, the multifunctional Silt Middelkerke Venue Building, in Belgium, is designed to redefine the interaction between the town’s seafront and its hinterland. Combining the search for distinctive architectural form and harmonious integration with the landscape, the project tackles several pertinent issues – coastal defense, upgrading public space, and environmental protection – resolving them with an integrated vision and multidisciplinary approach. Sited on what was once the island of Testerep, now part of the mainland, the building comprises six above-ground floors and a large underground area reaching into an artificial dune. The functional program of the new building includes a casino, hotel, restaurant, and event space.

The design competition launched by the Municipality of Middelkerke a few years ago was won by the Nautilus Consortium consisting of lead designers ZJA Architects & Engineers (architecture) and Delva Landscape Architecture | Urbanism (landscape); hotel and casino design specialists OZ Architecture; Bureau Bouwtechniek, the executive architect; developer Debuild; and contractor TM Furnibo-Democo, assisted by specialist consultants Cobe, Sweco, Beersnielsen, Witteveen+Bos, Plantec, Mint, and Sertius.

Built in just two years, the tower’s rounded shape improves the building’s wind-resistance capacity while allowing passers-by broader views. Since part of the building was placed underground, the designers have called it a “landscraper” – as opposed to a skyscraper. The result is a new volume that is not only in continuity with the sea resort’s existing skyline but which also adds movement to the coastline with the inclusion of a protective dune with a green roof. In fact, these were the decisive features that led to the Nautilus Consortium winning the competition. In addition, placing vehicle parking...

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