On the beach of Middelkerke, in Belgium, there is a curious hill of sand. Or at least it seems like it, at first glance. As you get closer, you realize that it is a simple dune, but a futuristic tower. It's about Silt, a one-of-a-kind building designed to resist the most violent storms and rising seas, integrating perfectly into the coastal landscape. A beacon of hope that seems to have come from the pencil of Simon Stalenhag (by the way: you saw loop? If I like a series, you can be sure they will cancel it. Guy The Peripheral. I digress too much.)
A tribute to the past, a high-tech dune, a challenge to the future
Silt draws inspiration from Testerep, an island that was located a short distance off the coast of Middelkerke in the Middle Ages. Over time, the island became connected to the mainland through a series of sea defenses and dikes. Today, this extraordinary architectural project is part of a larger plan to protect the Belgian coast from the dangers of the North Sea. The surprising appearance of this tower (which for creativity I associate with this other one) is not just an aesthetic issue, but also serves a practical purpose. The base of the building, which resembles an artificial dune, extends a nearby public square, offering superb views of the coast.
Inside the structure, we move from the "sacred" of the environmental fight to the "profane" of entertainment: there is a casino, a restaurant and an events area, while the tower section houses hotel rooms. How much do these activities pollute? Don't tell me I'm annoying, I always have the radar active anti-greenwashing. You never know.
A landscape to experience and admire
As the architects of ZJA, “The essence of design lies in the integration of all significant aspects, from the public experience to shoreline strengthening and economic impetus.” The once desolate square is now the hub of a new landscape to experience, with underground car parks giving way to a pedestrian area above ground. Dune grass, sand basins and canals leading to the beach give Middelkerke the characteristic landscape that it holds dear. Climbing to the top of the new dune offers breathtaking views, becoming a tourist attraction in itself. For Italian friends: I'm writing duna with a lowercase letter. And you know why: “climbing the new Duna” would have had a completely different meaning, and hello beauty.
A fortress against the storms of the future
Silt is beautiful, unlike that other Duna. And not only that: its structure, composed of a sturdy concrete base and a more iconic upper section with engineered wood trusses, is designed to withstand the elements. Thanks to its large protective wall and robust construction, Silt can cope with extreme weather conditions, including a storm with very high waves and a sea level rise of more than 2 meters above the current level. Are you saying you're moving forward with the work?
At night, the integrated lighting transforms the dune tower into a beacon that shines pleasantly, a reassuring point of reference in a world increasingly threatened by climate change. Silt, created in collaboration with Delva Landscape Architects, OZ, Bureau Bouwtechniek and Bouwteam Nautilus, was completed in just two years, from the first excavations to the inauguration at the end of March.
This extraordinary building not only redefines the Belgian coastal landscape, but also represents a concrete and innovative response to the challenges posed by rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Silt shows us a future in which architecture and nature can coexist in harmony, even in the most hostile contexts. Maybe a little dented by the elements, but still standing.
