Along the Flemish coast, a new landscape icon has recently emerged: SILT. The multifunctional event building is not only an architectural eye-catcher, but also a model of sustainable integration into the dune landscape. SILT combines coastal protection, quality of life and aesthetics in a way that is both appealing and modest. The real star of the show? Accoya wood, which plays a key role in the hotel's sculptural design.
Accoya: a natural choice for sustainability and aesthetics
Central to the design of the hotel, which rises like a beacon above the dune landscape, is an open grid of curved Accoya beams. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Accoya wood is extremely weather resistant and dimensionally stable - properties that are essential in the salty, windy coastal climate. The choice of Accoya reflects the design team's ambition to treat sustainability not as an afterthought, but as a starting point.
The wood around the hotel tower forms a kind of voile that blends seamlessly with the rhythm of the coast. Over the years, like the wooden wharves and lock gates of the fishing culture, the Accoya will naturally age and blend even more into the maritime landscape. It is also a carbon-neutral and circular material, allowing the design team to significantly reduce the building's carbon footprint.
A landscape masterpiece
Designed by ZJA, DELVA Landscape architectsand partners within the Nautilus Building Team, SILT is a powerful example of how contemporary architecture seeks to connect with both the past and the landscape. The design references the historic island of Testerep and transforms a hardened coastal area into an experiential dune landscape. The artificial dune, which functions both as a public space and a natural seawall, restores the connection between the city and the sea.
The 'landscraper' is a reclining counterpart to the classic skyscraper. Its undulating forms combine a casino, event hall, restaurant, hotel and underground car park. A fluid spatial experience where inside and outside merge.
Technology, experience and sustainability in harmony
Sustainability at SILT goes beyond the choice of materials. The building is designed for minimal energy consumption, efficient waste management and optimised production processes. The facades are transparent, allowing daylight to penetrate deeply and maximising views of the sea.
International recognition
International recognition The innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. SILT Middelkerke has been awarded numerous prestigious prizes, including the Architecture Masterprize 2024, the BLT Awards 2024 Jury’s Favorite in Landscape Architecture and an honourable mention at the World Landscape Architecture Award 2023. The project has also won the Belgium Construction Awards 2024 (bronze) and the IDA Award 2024 (bronze), and has been nominated for the WAN Awards 2024 and Archello Awards 2024.
SILT is a building that doesn't scream, but whispers - in the language of the landscape, the sea and time. With Accoya as the sustainable foundation of its design, it proves that innovation and respect for nature can go hand in hand.
