{"id":19287,"date":"2024-03-20T13:54:08","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T12:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=19287"},"modified":"2025-10-16T00:55:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T22:55:40","slug":"middelkerke-casino","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/showroom\/middelkerke-casino\/","title":{"rendered":"SILT: Middelkerke Casino"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SILT: casino van Middelkerke<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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SILT, the new casino of Middelkerke, combines a gaming hall, hotel, star restaurant and events hall in an innovative design that blends seamlessly into the surroundings. Sweco focuses on sustainability, acoustic comfort and circular materials for a unique experience and a future-proof building.<\/p>\n

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Client<\/dt>\n
Debuild<\/dd>\n
Location<\/dt>\n
Middelkerke<\/dd>\n
Period<\/dt>\n
2021 \u2013 2023<\/dd>\n
Architects<\/dt>\n
ZJA, Bureau Bouwtechniek, Zaaijer & Partners, Delva<\/dd>\n
Expertises<\/dt>\n
Acoustical Engineering, M&E Engineering, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Design<\/dd>\n
Services<\/dt>\n
Feasibility Study, Sustainability Assessment, Performance Gap Management, Sustainability Tracking<\/dd>\n
Award<\/dt>\n
2022 International Architecture Award<\/dd>\n <\/dl>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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About<\/h3>\n
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This new casino with an event hall, hotel, and starred restaurant will be a striking addition to the Belgian coast. This architectural gem forms a whole with the seawall and the surrounding Epernayplein.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Challenge<\/h3>\n

The combination of functions requires a flexible and overarching approach to energy flows, with a view to sustainability. The mix of functions, often accompanied by large audiences and experiences, makes for a significant challenge acoustically, too.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Solution<\/h3>\n

Room acoustics isolate sounds so that hotel and restaurant guests are not disturbed by performances and the casino proper. The structure around the hotel tower contains a lot of CLT, a renewable and circular raw material. Efficient production processes and recycled materials further reduce the building\u2019s footprint.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The fa\u00e7ade incorporates a sophisticated lighting design that illuminates the wooden structure after sunset.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tom De Vroe<\/strong>, senior project engineer M&E, Sweco<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Besides the gaming hall, the new casino building also includes a multifunctional event hall, a social and cultural meeting point, a beach hotel, and Michelin-starred restaurant.\u202fThe building is also part of an improved public space, in which a reinforced seawall and car-free Epernayplein form a whole.<\/p>\n

The casino building creates a contemporary experience of the historical coastal landscape, overwhelmed by the unswerving straight seawall and the wall of buildings made of stone and concrete back in the centre of Middelkerke.\u202fThe Epernay public square is extended with a high artificial dune topped by a green square with water elements. The event hall, restaurant, and casino are hidden below the dune, but have spectacular views, transparent fa\u00e7ades, and spacious terraces.<\/p>\n

With four floors, the hotel is a modest skyscraper on the beach. The simple form reflects nature or the fishing harbour. The hardwood voile will change colour under the influence of the elements just like the wood in the quays, lock gates, and dolphins. The fa\u00e7ade incorporates a sophisticated lighting design that illuminates the wooden structure after sunset.<\/p>\n

Sustainability<\/h2>\n

The design minimises the use of energy and materials in the structure along with the use of more efficient production processes and recycled materials. The artificial dune and cantilevering section near the hotel terraces are an energy-saving element. Both provide shade in summer and insulation in winter. The cross-laminated timber in the hotel tower conversion saves an enormous amount of CO2 as a renewable and circular raw material.<\/p>\n