Located directly on the beach in Middelkerke, Belgium, the new Silt events centre is a standout architectural achievement offering panoramic sea views and modern functionality. This impressive complex includes a casino, event hall, restaurants, a beachside hotel, and an underground car park, all unified by their coastal setting and transparent design.
Glass as a Key Design Element
High-performance glazing was essential to achieving the centre’s open, bright aesthetic. AGC iplus 1.0 coated insulating glass was selected for its outstanding clarity, neutrality, and energy performance. Its use across various parts of the building, from the curved hotel façade to ground-floor openings, enabled natural light to enter while maintaining visual comfort and thermal efficiency.
Architectural Harmony with the Coast
Designed by ZJA architects with DELVA, OZ, and Bureau Bouwtechniek, the project emphasises sustainability and respect for the coastal landscape. The structure echoes a mooring post, with flowing, sculptural lines that feel at home among dunes and harbour. It’s not only visually impactful; it also reinforces coastal resilience, with a sea wall engineered to resist a once-in-a-thousand-year storm.
Built for Views and Comfort
“The architecture merges seamlessly with the landscape,” notes ZJA’s Leo ten Wolde. “It’s contemporary, but never flashy.” Inside, nearly every hotel room faces the sea. The event spaces are partially hidden behind the dunes but still enjoy uninterrupted ocean views thanks to expansive transparent glazing. 
Installing the custom glass posed challenges due to strong coastal winds and the building’s curved profile. Polypane, the glass supplier and installer, developed tailored solutions including internal installation on upper floors and special edge treatments to preserve visual integrity.
Source: AGC Glass Europe with additional information added by Glass Balkan
