Mixed-use commercial architecture is undergoing a metamorphosis whose roots can be traced back decades, to when considerations about public space, urban infrastructure and private development became increasingly intertwined. At present, these concerns are often reconciled through cross-disciplinary collaborations which aid in conceptualising multifaceted approaches to building in sensitive contexts. Recently, this approach has gained another tangible argument for its effectiveness in a project that blends mixed-use functionality and coastline protection measures in the municipality of Middelkerke, within Belgium’s West Flanders province.

Now known as Silt Middelkerke, the project has been described as a “landscraper,” which merges the typologies of a hotel, casino, restaurant and event venue, with that of a public square while reinforcing flood control along the coastline bordering the North Sea. Commissioned by the municipality of Middelkerke, this hospitality architecture was planned as a multipurpose space that could host concerts, exhibitions and events while also supporting tourism as a seaside resort.

The project was designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary Dutch-Belgian collaboration known as the Nautilus Consortium, which consisted of the architectural firms ZJA, OZ and Bureau Bouwtechniek, alongside landscape architecture practice DELVA and several other collaborators. To realise Silt Middelkerke, the project team first had to reinforce the existing sea wall and then integrate it into the event venue. Subsequently, they also sought to pedestrianise and expand the public space surrounding the plot near Epernay Square, which was previously interrupted by traffic from adjacent roads.

In searching for inspiration, they turned to the past. During the Middle Ages, Middelkerke was a fishing village at the centre of Testerep, an island that was home to similar settlements such as Ostend and Westende, filled with dunes and channels. Eventually, these areas were connected to the West Flanders mainland through the construction of dikes and canals at an unconfirmed point in history. Since then, the sea wall used to halt the encroachment of the tides had assumed the image of a dull concrete barrier, which limited the available public space along the seashore and appeared disconnected from the rest of West Flanders.

As a result, the hospitality design for Silt Middelkerke also had to address the rejuvenation of these site features, as noted by the project architect at ZJA, Leo Ten Wolde, while speaking to STIR, “The location, coastal protection angle and the programme were specified in the tender request. Early on in the tender process, we decided to merge the public space with the building. The adjacent square was also made to extend over the roof of the event venue, effectively doubling the available public space in this location. This integration of building and public space maximises the project's connection to its surroundings.”

Effectively, this culminated in a scheme where the majority of the project’s internal programming—including the event hall and casino—was shifted beneath an undulating roofscape. This segment of the development forms terraced public walkways lined with patches of marram grass and sand, which cascade towards the new embankment along the seashore. In a way, the project aims to restore the lost landscapes of Middelkerke within the microcosm of this endeavour in mixed-use architecture.

As Ten Wolde explains, “For the geometry of the sea wall, we built upon a study of the Middelkerke promenade, which developed details such as the slope, wave-overflow elements and storm walls. We designed these elements specifically to conform to the unique characteristics of this location and the language of our design. The use of natural lines and curves emphasise the integration between building and landscape and this is where the strength of our design lies.”

He elaborates, "The building is embedded in the landscape, or rather, the landscape is draped over the building. The natural and flowing shapes of the building and landscape contrast sharply with the straight, rigid buildings in the area. Only the hotel tower rises above the terrain. This eyecatcher, standing as if on the beach, is visible from a great distance. The tower features a wooden, curved lattice structure illuminated in the evenings by lighting fixtures within the beams.” Enclosing the cylindrical hotel tower, this diagonal cross-laminated timber lattice of Accoya wood takes on the shape of a bollard, enhancing the visual dominance of the entire development along Middelkerke’s coastline, as a beacon of the municipality.

From the street level on the ground floor, the entrance to the building is recessed beneath the arched profile of the public roofscape, which slopes down on either side with stairs leading to the ground level. Upon entering the building, an atrium with an oval plan form presents itself. From here, visitors can enter the event space, casino and restaurant. A similarly shaped core at the centre of the foyer grants access to the hotel lounge and breakfast hall on the floor above, followed by five floors devoted exclusively to rooms for guests.

Surrounding the ground floor atrium, the external faces of the multipurpose venue, casino and restaurant are lined with transparent glass panels that grant panoramic views of the North Sea. These spaces also flow into terraces that terminate at the edge of the sea wall. The event hall within the complex has been designed with flexibility in mind and can serve as a venue for functions ranging from exhibitions, receptions and corporate events, to galas, banquets and even television recordings. Parts of the event space and casino extend down into the basement level, which accommodates back-of-house spaces for all the main programme areas. Underground parking has also been incorporated within this strata of commercial design, to help cut down vehicular traffic near the public spaces above it.

Ultimately, Silt Middelkerke is poised to redefine the relationship between the seaside, public space and the surrounding township along this stretch of the West Flanders coastline. Although it was constructed in rapid time over a period of less than two years, the road to arrive at this point was neither simple nor straightforward, as Ten Wolde attests, “The specific location of the project was a challenge, as the site was located on the beach, which meant dealing with issues of salt, sand and wind. During construction, high water levels had to be considered and the safety of the hinterland had to be guaranteed at all times. Additionally, construction was not allowed during July and August, which is the tourist season in Middelkerke.”

Despite these obstacles, Silt Middelkerke now stands as a proud new commercial landmark and pedestrianised public space for the surrounding township. According to Ten Wolde, “This project demonstrates that such commercial ventures on the coast can be well integrated with a sea wall, even accounting for expected sea level rises and thousand-year storms. It is also a good example of how parking facilities can be created just behind the sea wall, solving coastal parking problems while creating a car-free promenade.” Symbolising the triumph of cross-disciplinary collaboration that equally prioritises commercial, environmental and societal interests, Silt Middelkerke might hopefully inspire further innovation in sustainable architecture projects that attempt to improve their urban landscape in multiple dimensions.

Project Details

Name: Silt Middelkerke
Location: Middelkerke, West Flanders, Belgium
Client: The Municipality of Middelkerke
Architect: ZJA
Project Architect: Bureau Bouwtechniek
Landscape Architect: DELVA
Casino and Hotel Design: OZ
Site Area: 27000 sqm
Total Floor Area: 29500 sqm
Developer: Debuild
Consultants: COBE, VK Engineering, Beersnielsen, Witteveen+Bos, Plantec, MINT and Sertius
Contractor: TM Furnibo-Democo
Year of Completion: 2024