The Port House in Antwerp, located on the edge of the Eilandje district, has been the striking headquarters of Port of Antwerp-Bruges since 2016. It merges a historic fire station from 1922 with a futuristic glass superstructure that looks like a gleaming diamond perched atop.
The original building was restored and given a new public heart: an atrium with a glass roof, reading room, and library. Above floats a modern extension – a ship-like glass and steel cube. Supported by two concrete pillars, it appears almost weightless above the harbour.
Designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid, it is her only government building and represents Antwerp’s tradition and ambition. With over 2,000 triangular glass panels, it reflects light like water and symbolizes the diamond industry, trade spirit, and dynamism of the port.
Functionally, it provides workspace for around 500 employees and houses meeting rooms, atria, and a coffee bar. The building is sustainable with a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating: geothermal drilling, daylight control, and energy-efficient systems. In this way, it elegantly combines heritage and modern technology into one striking whole.
Sources. Story: ['Source Story: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havenhuis_(Antwerpen)', 'Source Story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Authority_Building_(Antwerp)', 'Source Story: https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/port-house/', 'Source Story: https://archello.com/project/port-house', 'Source Story: Rockwool case study on Port House sustainability'] Photos: Source Photo: Torsade de Pointes, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
