New Digital Port in Belgium by 3XN

Designed by 3XN, the Grognon will be a new Cultural Plaza and Digital Port encompassing a range of activities, where modern technologies will be made available to citizens and the Smart City project.

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Architect: 3XN
Location: Namur, Belgium
Year: 2016
Gross floor area: 1,000 m2 + 7,000 m2 urban space
Local architect: BEE architect (Namur, Belgium)
Developer/contractor: De Graeve, Duchene and Nonet
Innovation Consultant: Lateral Thinking Factory
Landscape architect: JNC International
Engineer: Arcadis
Lighting Design: Radiance 35

From the architects: At the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, adjacent to the historic Roman citadel and across from the Wallonian Parliament in Namur, Belgium; 3XN’s ‘beautiful game of terraces’ in the form of a Cultural Plaza and Digital Port; invites the rediscovery of this historic setting.

The design creates a destination with a strong identity and true sense of place. Envisioned as an economic driver for the 21st century, the new Digital Port will be a cultural building encompassing a range of activities, where modern technologies will be made available to citizens and the Smart City project.

Designed to flow across the site in one continuous gesture, the plaza and digital port are inspired by the natural forms of the river and organic patterns of nature. Soft curves define the project and will connect with visitors in a warm embrace that is human-scaled and friendly. The Jury commended the design, ‘’The whole riverfront façade is open to the water: a beautiful game of terraces inviting the rediscovery of the Meuse River; its rhythm; its life animated by boats and movement.’’

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