Starchitect wins competition for Port Authority building in Antwerp, Belgium

Zaha Hadid has unveiled images of a grasshopper-like extension to a refurbished fire station in Antwerp to house the port authority headquarters.

The extension, described by Zaha Hadid Architects as a 鈥渃rystalline volume鈥, is suspended over the existing building on three sculptural concrete 鈥渓egs鈥. The competition-winning design will be clad in glass and aluminium panels, and has been designed to mimic a diamond in reference to the Belgian port's diamond industry.

The practice will design both the extension and the refurbishment of the fire station at an estimated construction cost of 鈧30.5m (拢28.6m).

Zaha Hadid Architects worked with structural engineer Studieburo Mouton and local architect Bureau Bouwtechniek to create the designs.

Hadid said: 鈥淭he dichotomy between the reflective, faceted form of the new extension and the powerful structural mass of the existing fire station creates a bold and enigmatic statement for the city.鈥