Architects ZJA has teamed up with Bouwtechniek, OZ, and landscape architects DELVA to create the Venue Building for the Municipality of Middelkerke—an urban renewal development that functions as a new icon of the city and public destination. 

The requirements for a new casino building in Middelkerke encompassed a wide array of objectives. 

The design had to accommodate a reinforcement of the sea embankment, and a plan to enhance the quality of the public space by removing car traffic and unifying the boulevard and Epernay square.

This describes the starting point for the design the architectural studio ZJA made, in collaboration with OZ, DELVA landscape architects, and Bureau Bouwtechniek, as members of the Nautilus Consortium.

For its sustainable design that integrates landscape with architecture, Venue Building Middelkerke has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The soul of the design resides in its intimate integration with the landscape, the transformation of the town center into one that is pedestrian-friendly, and the introduction of a landmark building that combines public space, casino, hotel, restaurant, multifunctional event-space, and underground parking garage.

All this while reinforcing the sea dike providing Middelkerke with needed security, urban renewal, and an economic impetus. 

A large public space is created by moving the dike further onto the beach, creating an extension of the existing Epernay square while integrating it into the landscape. 

An underground parking garage ensures a car-free zone on the street level.

Connecting the town, the square, and the beach is a huge artificial dune in which the casino, the public hall for concerts and exhibitions, and the restaurant are located. 

These functions are built underneath the extension of the public space, but all have transparent facades and spectacular views. 

The event space serves as a social and cultural meeting point for Middelkerke, a new living room for the town.

Sea lyme grass, water elements, and sand gullies flowing towards the beach simulate a dune experience. 

The new public space, with the climb to the green square on top of the dune, is a tourist attraction in its own right. 

Attached to it is the beach hotel with its enigmatic sculptural silhouette, an understated icon with an open grid of curved beams in Accoya wood. 

The design optimizes energy, waste management, and production processes, and is recyclable.

Project: Venue Building Middelkerke Architects: ZJA Associate Architects: Bureau Bouwtechniek and OZ  Landscape Architects: DELVA Architecture Urbanism  Contractors: Furnibo and Democo Consultants: COBE, VK Engineering, Beersnielsen, Witteveen+Bos, Plantec, MINT, Sertius Developer: Debuild, part of Democo Group Client: Municipality of Middelkerke  Photographers: The Nautilus Consortium and Proloog

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