staggered zuiderzicht high-rise provides adaptable housing in antwerp, belgium

zuiderzicht high-rise tower in antwerp

international design firm KCAP architects in collaboration with belgium-based evr-architecten introduce ‘zuiderzicht’, one of the eight high-rise volumes within secchi-viganò’s masterplan of the residential nieuw zuid area in antwerp. boasting generous views of the nearby river and surrounded by green public spaces, the tower showcases a bright color and open appearance, fitting right into the city’s tradition of white, layered, tectonic high-rises such as the onze-lieve-vrouwe cathedral, the art deco style KBC-tower and the police tower and others. the 21.082 sqm structure consists of five layers at its base, including a hotel with 108 rooms, a 25-story tower with 134 dwelling units, and a parking space organized on two different underground levels.

all images © stijn bollaert

providing a wide variety of housing types

the architectural concept for zuiderzicht is characterized by a wide variety of housing types for different user groups: young families, seniors, co-housers, singles, and working couples. the apartments are compact and efficiently organized around a central core, designed with flexible floor plan layouts and constructed with a load-bearing facade. this flexibility allows for combining units to create larger residences and for adapting to changing needs in the future.

‘our concept interprets the qualities of the typical belgian house,’ says han van den born, architect and former partner of KCAP(find more here). ‘all apartments are surrounded by a white concrete structure designed as a double-height grid. each owner has the opportunity to choose from a range of design options to individually use this added outdoor space that evolves between the isolated façade and the concrete grid. think of balconies, glazed terraces and roof terraces.’

on ground level, duplex units contribute to accommodating the variety of residents and housing types. ‘the duplex units all have a front door and outdoor space on ground level, creating a lively transition and connection to the public space. this is an exceptional quality within a high-rise concept,’ explains han van den born. those different outdoor spaces are a contemporary reinterpretation of the belgian ‘veranda’ and were designed as pleasant extensions of the living spaces to enjoy extra surface, light, and the beautiful views of antwerp, the river scheldt, and the surrounding countryside.

enhancing social sustainability, diversity, and togetherness

the combination of differing floor plans with the individual infills of the surrounding grid results in a versatile range of apartments and a layered and impactful image to the outside. the staggered shape of the tower supports the volume’s increasing slenderness to the top, and at the same time provides spacious elevated terraces on the upper levels. a double-height passage in the plinth, crossing through the building, allows residents and visitors to stroll through the building. the passage with the adjacent common space offers a gathering place for the residents, becoming a catalyst for community building in the new district.

by combining the project’s integral accessibility, the typological variety of the dwellings, and the lively plinth in addition to the hotel, the concept of zuiderzicht enhances social sustainability, diversity, and togetherness. zuiderzicht is a compact volume respecting the ‘passive house standard’. the double skin is conceived based on the desire to provide the inhabitants with the best living comfort in terms of wind, noise, daylight, and overheating. the technical sustainability concept features elements such as green roofs, solar panels, and an integrated system for water recovery. ‘we can understand sustainability also literally as ‘enduring over time’. zuiderzicht’s long-term potential is mainly based on peoples’ appreciation and the added value it can provide for as many users as possible for the longest possible time,’ says niels baeck, architect and partner of evr-architecten (find more here). with zuiderzicht, the agenda is set for a new and innovative way of flexible urban living in a strategic position to the city centre of antwerp and with direct contact with its surroundings.