Port House Antwerp – futuristic building by Zaha Hadid
The Port House Antwerp is one of the most impressive buildings by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid. With this project, Zaha Hadid not only created a new landmark for Antwerp but also made an architectural statement for the merging of past and future.
Summary
What: Port House Antwerpen
Where: Antwerp
Highlight: Tour through the building
Ideal for: Photographers, architecture lovers
The Mistress of Flowing Forms: Who was Zaha Hadid?
Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) was one of the most visionary and influential architects of recent history. The Baghdad-born Briton first studied mathematics in Beirut before finding her true calling at the renowned Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.
She achieved worldwide fame with her firm, Zaha Hadid Architects. Her style is unmistakable: deconstructivist, futuristic, and often organic-looking. Her designs seem to defy the laws of gravity, characterized by flowing forms, bold lines, and a radically innovative use of materials.
She was a pioneer and the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the “Nobel Prize of Architecture,” in 2004. Her work went far beyond pure architecture; she also designed furniture, interiors, and fashion.
We have already seen some of her works on our travels:
London Aquatics Centre (built for the 2012 Olympic Games)
From a Pragmatic Problem to a Stroke of Genius
The history of the Port House begins in the 1990s. The Antwerp Port Authority was spread across various buildings in the city – an unsustainable situation. It was decided to consolidate the administration in one central location: a magnificent but listed former fire station in the port area.
The catch: The historic Hanseatic-style building was hopelessly too small for the 500 employees. So, how to expand without destroying the heritage?
An international architecture competition was intended to solve this conundrum. Zaha Hadid Architects won this competition. Her stroke of genius: Instead of touching the old building or placing a mundane extension next to it, she placed a spectacular new structure above it.
This structure practically floats on asymmetrical supports above the fire station, referencing two of Antwerp’s souls at once:
The Ship: The elongated, dynamic form is reminiscent of a ship’s hull – a clear homage to the port as the city’s lifeline.
The Diamond: The façade consists of thousands of triangular glass facets that sparkle differently depending on the light. It is a glass diamond that reflects the sky and water, thus forging a direct link to Antwerp as the world’s diamond-trading center.
A Tour Through Old and New
Occasionally, there is an opportunity to take part in a guided tour at the Port House Antwerp. Since the building is used by a public authority, these tours naturally take place after office hours so as not to disrupt operations.
Our tour started in the former courtyard of the fire station, which is now covered by a massive glass roof. Here, in this light-flooded entrance hall, a gigantic map of the port is set into the floor. Our guide used it to illustrate the rapid development and dimensions of the Port of Antwerp.
After that, we went crisscrossing through the various areas of the building. The tour first led us through the carefully restored old building (6,600 m²), which houses not only offices but also an atmospheric historical reading room with a library.
The modern extension, with its total area of about 6,200 m², rests on two large supports. In one of these supports, there is an elevator that took us up into that part of the building. Here, in what is now the canteen, we could admire the view of the port and the city. We were also lucky enough to experience the sunset. However, I was much more fascinated by observing the many details of the structure. From the curved forms to the triangular windows, everything forms a harmonious whole.
During the tour, we also went to an observation deck. Here, in one spot, the bow of the ship that the building is meant to resemble was recreated. Very tempting to stand there and recreate the famous Titanic scene. From another spot, a view opened up into the covered entrance hall and, time and again, onto one of the many structural peculiarities of the building.
For photographers and architects, this place is surely a dream!
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