SILT Middelkerke by DELVA Landscape Architecture | Urbanism

Built in 2024 / 2025 Entries / 2025 Landscape and Architecture / 2025 Public Projects / Belgium /
delva.la

With much love for sea and dunes
The landscape icon known as SILT is both appealing and authentic. In many ways, the event building is an asset to the Flemish coast. With much love for the sea and dunes, this new eye-catcher combines coastal reinforcement, landscape, livability and sustainability.

A new landscape beacon by the sea
The designers have rooted the building in its context by embedding it within a newly designed experiential landscape, inspired by the former island of Testerep — a place once shaped by dunes for coastal defense and a dynamic system of tidal channels that symbolized prosperity. The seamless integration of the dune landscape, the building, and the dike creates a synergy where coastal protection, livability, and sustainability naturally blend into the existing shoreline.

At the heart of the landscape, the hotel tower emerges as a new beacon by the sea. SILT also houses a casino, a restaurant, a multifunctional event space (which was not initially planned), and an underground parking garage. The underground parking area creates a car-free zone above, freeing up the public space. Marram grass, dune basins, and sand channels leading to the beach give Middelkerke back the distinctive landscape it longs for. The climb to the top of the new dune offers breathtaking views and is a tourist attraction in itself.

Protected against heavy storm surges
SILT has received a new sea wall that can withstand a 1,000-year storm. This sea defense will endure extreme storm conditions with exceptionally high waves and water levels exceeding two meters above the current high tide level. SILT is now the best-protected spot along the Belgian coast.

“Skyscrapers define the skyline of a modern city. For SILT, the design team looked for a ‘landscraper’: a new and unique horizontal dune landscape with an embedded program. We use the distinctive landscape as a means to integrate all the design challenges in a seemingly natural way. The result is a new, experiential dune landscape. A place where residents and visitors can once again enjoy the view, the sea, the skies, and the dunes.”
— Steven Delva, founder of DELVA

Firmly anchored in place
SILT exudes strength, simplicity, and refinement, created with deep love for the sea and dunes. The project reflects the character of the seaside town and may mark the beginning of a revitalized center for Middelkerke — a pleasant place to live and visit.

To anchor the project in the spatial, social, and economic features of the location, the design team developed a high-quality, integrated concept. Not a stand-alone, inward-looking building, but one embedded in a landscape that sustainably connects with its surroundings in every way.

The hotel, connected to the event building, graces the coastline with its enigmatic, sculptural silhouette. It’s a modest yet striking structure, with an open frame of curved Accoya wood beams. This not only symbolizes connection with the environment but also radiates sustainability. Just like safety, functionality, aesthetics, and economic value, sustainability is central to the design. Efforts were made to optimize energy supply, waste management, and production processes.

A coastal landmark in record time
The project was built remarkably quickly. In February 2022, the construction team began excavating the massive building pit. Just two years later, the landscape and building were completed — thanks to close cooperation and dedication from all involved parties, and daily site supervision by DELVA. Now, the next phases are underway, extending towards Westende and Oostende.

Richer Dikes
This unique achievement stems from DELVA’s design research project called “Rijkere Dijken” (Richer Dikes). It once again highlights the importance of research-based design in our field.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
DELVA Landscape Architecture & Urbanism

• All architecture offices involved in the design:
ZJA
OZ
Bureau Bouwtechniek

• Other credits:
Client: Municipality of Middelkerke
Developer: Debuild
Contractors: TM Furnibo-Democo
Collaborators: COBE, VK Engineering, Beersnielsen, Witteveen+Bos, Plantec, MINT, Sertius
Photography: Sebastian van Damme, Stefan Steenkiste