Top international architect Zaha Hadid to design new Port House

The future headquarters of Antwerp Port Authority will be designed by the London firm of Zaha Hadid Architects. The choice of architect was made at the Port Authority board meeting on 13 January. The new Port House will occupy the site of the technical services building on quay 63.


The Port Authority aims to make its operations more efficient by centralising the administrative and technical services which are now divided between the Port House and quay 63. The new headquarters will also solve the pressing shortage of workspace in the present Port House on the Entrepot quay. Some 500 people will be able to move into the new building when it is completed in 2013.
In addition to offering better accommodation, the future Port House will contribute to further development and upgrading of the part of the city known as Het Eilandje. The brief for the new building specified that it had to symbolise the Port of Antwerp as a world port and economic driver of Flanders and the Antwerp area. It also had to be built according to the principles of sustainability.
© Zaha Hadid Architects

A shortlist of five firms was chosen:

·         Consortium of TV A2O Architecten / Atelier Kempe Thill / Marcq & Roba / BEG from Hassel, Belgium

·         Vier Arquitectos from La Coruña, Spain

·         Xaveer De Geyter Architects from Brussels

·         Zaha Hadid Architects from London

·         Rapp + Rapp from Rotterdam.


The jury/board of directors finally opted for the proposal by Zaha Hadid Architects, because:

 

- the design preserves as much as possible of the dignity of the present building as a monument, adding a new object to the site;

- the board and its advisors had confidence in a team such as Zaha Hadid Architects being able to further develop the project so as to achieve a high quality end result that can act as a “shop window” for the Port Authority


You can read the complete information concerning the design of Zaha Hadid Architects by clicking on the document below:
Desing Zaha Hadid Architects

 

Quote Zaha Hadid "I am absolutely delighted to be selected to build the headquarters for the Antwerp Port Authority. Antwerp is one of the world’s busiest shipping ports and the new Port House design reflects the city’s worldwide significance in communication and transportation. The dichotomy between the reflective, faceted form of the new extension and the powerful structural mass of the existing fire station creates a bold and enigmatic statement for the city."

©2008 Haven van Antwerpen