Love between sea and building reinvented on the Belgian coast

Today marks the opening of a remarkable event venue in Middelkerke: Silt. This building is enriching the Belgian coast in multiple ways, enhancing both its attractiveness and integrity. With a profound love for the sea and dunes, this new landmark combines coastal reinforcement, quality of life, and sustainability.

At the heart of the project for Witteveen+Bos lies one of the building's foundations, the sea defense. It represents a beautiful Belgian-Dutch collaboration, relying on each other's expertise. The department of Coasts, Rivers, and Cities worked alongside the knowledge and experiences of Maarten Jansen and Bert van den Berg (department of Deltas, Coasts, and Rivers).

The story surrounding the sea defense and the involvement of Witteveen+Bos begins when we were contacted by the construction team Nautilus, due to our strong expertise in hydraulic engineering and unique knowledge in coastal morphology and hydrodynamics. The casino itself lies beyond the safety line, as an extension of the sea defense on the beach. An exceptional situation requiring extra attention regarding coastal defense and integration into the landscape. The design of the sea defense was necessary to ensure safety against extreme weather conditions.

The project team meticulously examined the impact of the sea on the beach and the action of waves on the sea defense. During the design process, smooth lines were chosen to minimize the impact of storms. Additionally, we were responsible for designing the temporary sea defense during construction. Safety was guaranteed at all times.

• Approximately 3,000 m² of sheet piling
• 153 retaining walls
• 4,500 m² of promenade and storm walls