Willem Jan Neutelings (NL)

(autotranslated) After the Antwerp Museum aan de Stroom, the Leuven STUK Arts Centre and the Ghent Forum, it is a relief that Knokke does not take refuge in the Neut Ling Mania. The monolithic proposal from the bureau Neutelings-Riedijk do not initially think of Koolhaas’ (never carried out) design for the ferry terminal in Zeebrugge and at the same time move the diamond-shaped wall structure to draw parallels with the London Swiss RE headquarters by Sir Norman Foster. Under the motto that the design timeless design possession, the impact of new construction reduced to acceptable proportions. Yet at the same time chosen grotesque gestures which, for example, the “sea-square” appropriates a large part of the beach. In the next and final round of matches, the Dutch agency could weaken this proposal for an asymmetric layout or a seasonal expansion.

Dominique Pieters