Hoost Knokke-Heist

B2Ai is working with developer CAAAP-Artes Depret, on the Hoost project in Heist-aan-Zee. A new ‘Community House’ will be built on the site of the former town hall: a 13-storey tower block rich in form and colour, designed by the Parisian architects Jakob + Macfarlane. The tower incorporates an event hall and 90 apartments. At the foot of the striking building there will be a new public open space, an underground car park for over 250 cars and an area for shops and catering.

“The project will have a special outer shell, built in stacked blocks.”

The ‘Community House’ has been given an outer shell that makes a difference – the stacked cubes or ‘houses’ demonstrate that it seeks to be a landmark – but at the same time takes its surroundings fully into account. Thus the volume of the tower was determined on the basis of a shadow study to ensure that the incidence of sunlight on the surrounding residential units is not affected.

The new Community House will house municipal services for Knokke-Heist: a library with internet cafe, wedding and council chamber, police and a multifunctional space two floors high. The main entrance on the west facade stands out because of its monumental staircase to the first floor. This space also provides access to the library and games library on the ground floor. The internet cafe is located on the southwest corner, is also double height, and is perfect for visibility and catching the sun, the ideal corner for a summer terrace.

The housing is stacked above the public spaces: levels +2 to +13 accommodate a mix of housing types that together determine the image of the tower. The two-storey dwellings will have gardens, terraces or winter gardens to reinforce this image.

“The duplex houses will have an extra image enhancing effect with their double-height gardens, terraces or winter gardens”