Danish firm 3XN Architects has emerged as the winner of an international competition to design a combined Cultural Plaza and Digital Port in Namur, Belgium. Joining 3XN Architects on the design are BEE Architects, JNC International, Lateral Thinking Factory and Arcadis. Situated at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, the design will create a destination with a strong identity and sense of place that serves as an economic stimulus for the city.
Covering the site in one continuous gesture, the form of the plaza and digital port evokes the natural, organic setting that adds a human scale to the design. The design embraces the setting in totality, using terraces that offer access to the water and are capable of supporting a multitude of activities and offering panoramic views. Read more from 3XN Architects about the design strategy and vision for this historic site:
“At the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, adjacent to the historic Roman citadel and across from the Wallonian Parliament in Namur, Belgium, 3XN’s ‘beautiful game of terraces’ in the form of a Cultural Plaza and Digital Port invites the rediscovery of this historic setting.The City of Namur announced the unanimous choice for the winning team of their international competition this week, designed by 3XN Architects of Denmark, in collaboration with BEE Architect, JNC International, Lateral Thinking Factory and Arcadis. The consortium is led by De Graeve – Nonet – Duchène. The winning design creates a destination with a strong identity and true sense of place.
Envisioned as an economic driver for the 21st century, the new Digital Port will be a cultural building encompassing a range of activities, where modern technologies will be made available to citizens and the Smart City project. Designed to flow across the site in one continuous gesture, the plaza and digital port are inspired by the natural forms of the river and organic patterns of nature. Soft curves define the project and will connect with visitors in a warm embrace that is human-scaled and friendly. The Jury commended the design, ‘The whole riverfront façade is open to the water: a beautiful game of terraces inviting the rediscovery of the Meuse River; its rhythm; its life animated by boats and movement.’
‘The attractiveness of the space takes many forms,’ says Jan Ammundsen, Senior Partner, 3XN. ‘It partly comes from the building itself, conceived as a visible symbol of the Confluence between the rivers, and offering direct and indirect connections with water. It is a place that is both sensitive and contemporary; arranged for different activities, with a view over a magnificent and active landscape.’”
All images via 3XN Architects