Steven Holl Architects - Sail Hybrid

Competition winner
Steven Holl Architects
Sail Hybrid
Knokke-Heist, Belgium

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects

Steven Holl Architects have been selected to rebuild, restore, and transform the Albert Place Casino, designed in 1930 by Leon Stynen, in the Belgian seaside resort town of Knokke-Heist.
With an enhanced program, intended to provide an iconic landmark and bolster the town’s stature and urban spaces, the project will transform the seaside resort into a premiere travel and architectonic destination.

Photo courtesy Knokke-Heist

The Sail Hybrid design was inspired by the René Magritte mural, The Ship Which Tells the Story to the Mermaid, one of eight original Surrealist masterpieces in the series called Le Domaine Enchanté, which was commissioned for the Casino in 1953. The concept expressly preserves the Magritte Room and restores the Stynen Casino facades.

The mural inspired a hybrid transformation of the Casino into three architectures: one sail-like and planar (hotel and apartment tower), one volumetric (restored-reprogrammed Casino), and one porous (the Congress Hall) to create a synergy of the new functions within the resort complex.

Sketch courtesy Steven Holl

The thin profile of the sail-like tower provides all rooms, in both residential apartments as well as the hotel rooms, with unencumbered sea views. Additionally, the tower’s thin configuration does not detract from the sea views of the existing six to seven story residential buildings which form the adjacent context.

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects

Porosity is realized through the treatment of circulation. At ground level the Casino is open to the sea on the north side and continues through Congress Hall to the south avenue facing entrance.

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects

The new design occupies the only point in Knokke-Heist that has a break in the Atlantic Wall. This break dictated a seaward orientation for the iconic Sail Hybrid design.

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects

Priority was given to public areas including a spa, rooftop terrace, pool and restaurant which were located on the highest tower floors. Congress Hall includes another roof terrace, pool and café, accessible from both the exhibition and Casino areas. A predominantly pedestrian public space, Casino Square, paved in Belgian Bluestone and enhanced with landscaping and public art, fronts the boardwalk and creates a sense of place in the city’s urban fabric.

Sustainability is incorporated in the design through the use of local or technologically advanced materials and building reuse.
The sail-like tower is clad in a high performance curtain wall that provides insulation and controls solar gain. To achieve material reuse, eliminate waste, and minimize demolition, manufacture, transportation and energy consumption, Leon Stynen’s original façade will be restored with the latest high performance insulated curtain wall technology.

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects
Aerial Composite

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects
Model

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects
Section

Overall size: 71,000 square meters
Building Height: 108 meters
Design Year: 2005

Client: Knokke-Heist, Belgium

Architects: Steven Holl Architects
Principal Architect: Steven Holl
Partner-in-Charge: Chris McVoy
Project Architect: Nick Gelpi
Assistant Project Architect: Noah Yaffe
Project Team:
Young Jang
Richard Liu
Edward Lalonde
Alessandro Orsini
Local Architects: Buro 2
Hendrik Vermoortel
Rita Agneessens
Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates
Nat Oppenheimer

Steven Holl Architects arcspace features

August 15, 2005





				Features
		Competition winner Steven Holl Architects Sail Hybrid Knokke-Heist, Belgium Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Steven Holl Architects have been selected to rebuild, restore, and transform the Albert Place Casino, designed in 1930 by Leon Stynen, in the Belgian seaside resort town of Knokke-Heist. With an enhanced program, intended to provide an iconic landmark and bolster the town’s stature and urban spaces, the project will transform the seaside resort into a premiere travel and architectonic destination. Photo courtesy Knokke-Heist The Sail Hybrid design was inspired by the René Magritte mural, The Ship Which Tells the Story to the Mermaid, one of eight original Surrealist masterpieces in the series called Le Domaine Enchanté, which was commissioned for the Casino in 1953. The concept expressly preserves the Magritte Room and restores the Stynen Casino facades. The mural inspired a hybrid transformation of the Casino into three architectures: one sail-like and planar (hotel and apartment tower), one volumetric (restored-reprogrammed Casino), and one porous (the Congress Hall) to create a synergy of the new functions within the resort complex. Sketch courtesy Steven Holl The thin profile of the sail-like tower provides all rooms, in both residential apartments as well as the hotel rooms, with unencumbered sea views. Additionally, the tower’s thin configuration does not detract from the sea views of the existing six to seven story residential buildings which form the adjacent context. Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Porosity is realized through the treatment of circulation. At ground level the Casino is open to the sea on the north side and continues through Congress Hall to the south avenue facing entrance. Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects The new design occupies the only point in Knokke-Heist that has a break in the Atlantic Wall. This break dictated a seaward orientation for the iconic Sail Hybrid design. Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Priority was given to public areas including a spa, rooftop terrace, pool and restaurant which were located on the highest tower floors. Congress Hall includes another roof terrace, pool and café, accessible from both the exhibition and Casino areas. A predominantly pedestrian public space, Casino Square, paved in Belgian Bluestone and enhanced with landscaping and public art, fronts the boardwalk and creates a sense of place in the city’s urban fabric. Sustainability is incorporated in the design through the use of local or technologically advanced materials and building reuse. The sail-like tower is clad in a high performance curtain wall that provides insulation and controls solar gain. To achieve material reuse, eliminate waste, and minimize demolition, manufacture, transportation and energy consumption, Leon Stynen’s original façade will be restored with the latest high performance insulated curtain wall technology. Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Aerial Composite Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Model Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects Section Overall size: 71,000 square meters Building Height: 108 meters Design Year: 2005 Client: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Architects: Steven Holl Architects Principal Architect: Steven Holl Partner-in-Charge: Chris McVoy Project Architect: Nick Gelpi Assistant Project Architect: Noah Yaffe Project Team: Young Jang Richard Liu Edward Lalonde Alessandro Orsini Local Architects: Buro 2 Hendrik Vermoortel Rita Agneessens Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates Nat Oppenheimer Steven Holl Architects arcspace features August 15, 2005