The Port House is an architectural jewel and undoubtedly one of the most amazing and high-profile eye-catchers of the Antwerp skyline. It is the head office of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and the workplace for 500 of its staff.
The renowned Zaha Hadid Architects firm delivered this astonishing masterpiece in 2016, as befitting a world port like Antwerp, and a symbolic gateway to the port area. At the Port House, the past and future of the port of Antwerp and Bruges come together.
The lower part used to be a fire station at the far end of the harbour. During the renovation, this beautiful barracks has been preserved and now this place is designated to be the beginning of the extensive port area. There is no clearer symbol of the growth of the port of Antwerp and Bruges. The new part is poised above the historic fire station like a glittering diamond, with its tip pointing towards the Scheldt like the prow of a ship. The glass superstructure reflects the varying shades of port, water and air. The flat and rippling surfaces, alternating between each other, represent the waves of the Scheldt. The glistening diamond is a clear reference to the Antwerp diamond trade. This is a metaphor for the port of the 21st century: a port with a rich past, ready for the future.
As a whole, it delivers a lovely example of spectacle architecture, characteristic of Zaha Hadid, a renowned British architect hailing from Iraq. Zaha Hadid has built striking buildings all over the world, including the Guangzhou opera house in China, the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.
The building is breathtaking on the inside too, thanks to a fascinating interplay of lines to be found on every floor, and gorgeous panoramic views.
Would you like to take a look inside this eye-catcher on the Antwerp skyline? Or would you like to admire the port and city from a breathtaking perspective? Then pay a visit to the Port House and find out all about the daring architecture and how the port works.
History
Port of Antwerp-Bruges had to find a location to build a new Port House, because the old Port House had become too small and was in a location where no further port activity was taking place. The abandoned historic fire station was at the start of the port of today, north of Antwerp. The perfect base of operations for the new home of a world port. An architectural competition was organised for the renovation and expansion of the fire station, which was won by Zaha Hadid Projects from London. The new Port House was taken into use in 2016.
What to expect?
- The story of the port's history, the port of today and the future of our port.
- Visiting the Port House, indoor and outdoor.
Pictures