January 22, 2026 News
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News · January 22, 2026
Winning vision for Middelkerke’s New House of the Citizen
We are delighted to share that our design has been selected for the new House of the Citizen in Middelkerke, Belgium! Conceived as part of the vision for the “City Center of Tomorrow,” the new town hall, designed together with Cordeel and BINST ARCHITECTS, will become a future‑oriented, sustainable, and instantly recognizable landmark on the renewed municipal square.
Located along the Belgian coast and in the polders of the Flemish coastal plain, the landscape design draws directly from its context by extending the dune ridge into the site, forging a stronger link between the new cultural center and the coast. The dune landscape extends like fingers through the star-shaped town hall, reintroducing the symbolic coastal identity—that is now barely visible—to the public space.
A deliberate progression in planting—from northern dune species to southern polder vegetation—articulates the transition from coast to city, transforming the market square into a lively setting for markets and public life. New green zones create inviting spaces for residents and visitors alike, while side streets evolve into extended green corridors that enhance ecological value and encourage fauna movement.
Construction starts in autumn 2026, ushering in the next chapter for Middelkerke!
“The coast is our compass. Its landscapes, textures, and ecology drive the design vision toward a vibrant, iconic, and resilient public space.”
— Sophie van Eeden, Landscape architect, OKRA
