Ian Simpson Architects Wins Belgian Concert Hall Competition

British Ian Simpson Architects, in collaboration with American acoustics design firm Kirkegaard Associates, has won the international architectural competition for the redesign and transformation of the existing Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp, Belgium. The new design will provide a world class concert hall and conference facility for the KMDA, the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, and the deFilharmonie, the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra.

The scheme has a budget of 30 million Euros (43.1 million US dollars), and work is due to begin next year. The competition attracted 65 entries from around the world from which five practices were invited to prepare detailed design proposals. The shortlisted teams included Caruso St John, Robbrecht and Daem, and Office dA.

Kris Peeters, the Flemish prime minister, said: “The new Queen Elizabeth Hall will be appreciated by everyone. This will become an international meeting place of entertainment and culture, a landmark for Flanders and the city of Antwerp.”

“The Queen Elizabeth Hall should stand as a public, friendly place,” said architect Ian Simpson. “The concert itself has been narrowed to create better acoustic within the hall and allow natural daylight to penetrate the ground floor foyer adjacent.”

The design concept was also praised by the Royal Flemish Philharmonic.

Images: Ian Simpson Architects