Knokke-Heist - Stadium De Taeye

The design brief for a new stadium building at the De Taeye sports complex in Heist, a borough of Knokke-Heist, was awarded to Argine Architects, Emilia Ockerman and Sebastiaan Willemen in collaboration with Efika Engineering, L.A.B.E.A.U, sonIQ and DIMAR Engineering.

The design vision is compelling due to its balanced and well-considered approach. The building’s design stands out for its subtle yet powerful and recognisable appearance and places a strong emphasis on accessibility, legibility and a conscious relationship with the surroundings. It is a versatile and inviting building that offers space for informal use by various user groups. Sustainability lies at the heart of the concept, based on Stewart Brand’s ‘shearing layers’. As a result, the various building components – such as the site, structure, façade, interior and technical systems – are independent and adaptable in the long term. The choice of materials and systems is aligned with this vision, contributing to long-term sustainability. Functionally, the proposal is also highly developed, with a clear and logical organisation of circulation, logistics and visitor flows.

Efficiency is paramount in this design. The building takes shape within a rigorous grid and can be freely configured. This allows for optimisations without having to rethink the concept. The structural concept supports the ambition to create a functional, flexible and sustainable building. The repetition of structural elements such as columns and beams enables faster construction, reduced material usage and lower structural costs. In addition, construction costs are kept under control by limiting the number of different materials, employing tried-and-tested construction techniques and avoiding overly complex detailing. The lifespan of technical systems is maximised and replacement is made straightforward.

The Argine Architects team proved to be a strong, motivated team with an open attitude and a willingness to adapt. This combination of a solid basic design and a flexible process approach was key. The team has experience in coordinating complex public projects, where architectural quality is central, without losing sight of the practical realities of site supervision and budget control. There is a clear focus on incorporating user input, which further enriches the design. A log of decisions ensures transparency and leads to a final, widely supported design.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The municipal authorities of Knokke-Heist want to realize a new multipurpose stadium building as the beating heart of sports site De Taeye north of the railway embankment in Heist. The project is part of a sustainable investment in sports and youth activities for the coming decades. The building must therefore be future-proof in various respects (in terms of both construction and programme). The municipality of Knokke-Heist has allocated a budget of €3,610,000 (excl. VAT and fees) for this project

Sport and relaxation are often mentioned in the same breath in the municipality of Knokke-Heist. With three equipped municipal sports centres, a municipal swimming pool, Lakeside Paradise, golf infrastructure, the beach and sea with numerous sailing and water sports clubs, it is the sports municipality par excellence. After the successful transformation of the Burgemeester Graaf Leopold Lippens Park in Knokke, the focus has shifted to the Sports Park De Taeye – Laguna in the borough of Heist, which consists of the sports site De Taeye on the north side of the railway line, on the one hand, and, on the other, the sports centre Laguna and Tennis Club Duinbergen on the south side. Both sides of the sports park were recently connected by a new bicycle and pedestrian tunnel under the railway.

This architectural assignment focuses on the new stadium building for the sports site De Taeye, a site that focuses primarily on football, but where powerball is also played. The infrastructure from the 1960s–70s is very outdated and also awkwardly spread across the site, making efficient shared use of space difficult. The new stadium building should optimally facilitate all the activities and uses involved. It should provide space for a ground-level canteen, changing rooms, sanitary facilities, a multipurpose room, sufficient storage space for club operations, a covered grandstand tailored to the club’s needs, as well as facilities for the municipality’s green department. This programme encompasses approximately 1,900m².

In consultation with the future main user of the site (K.F.C. Heist), a conscious decision was made not to locate the canteen on a first floor with an optimal view of the fields, but to opt for a ground-level design. In this way, the canteen can take on the broadest possible social significance within the sports park, where the attraction and target audience are not purely tied to sport, but reach further. The ‘canteen’ should therefore be literally and figuratively accessible.

The other functions must also be able to operate smoothly separately and simultaneously, allowing the different clubs with their various activities to share the building. This, together with the poor condition and location of the current buildings, is the main reason for opting for a new building located centrally on the site and for demolishing the existing grandstand building for this purpose. An extensive renovation could restore the grandstand building to its former glory, but it would still fall short of meeting current needs and expectations. Today, the building is also too far from the A-field and is purely monofunctional, with a focus on football. The number of changing rooms is limited and the seating stand rather oversized. The future requires a sustainable solution that facilitates a broad spectrum of interests and can support the operations of different clubs and users. Not only current, but also future needs should therefore be taken into account. Naturally, the designers are required to handle the materials of the existing structures consciously and to reuse them where possible within or outside the project.

This assignment is one of the key files within an overarching ambition to transform the De Taeye sports site and the Laguna sports centre – currently still operating autonomously and separated by a railway line – into a single open sports park where accessibility and added value for the community are central and where the aim is to achieve spatial and organizational integration within a climate-resistant environment. At a later stage, the layout of the surroundings will also be completely rethought, as a crucial next step towards a successful transformation.

The municipal authorities envisage an implementation starting in the summer of 2027.