BEL045 – WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANT ISVAG
The new plant will be positioned perpendicular to the A12, proudly visible to the public—because we want everyone to see how we handle our waste!
The complex will stretch approximately 200 meters long, 50 meters wide, and 65 meters high, with a total volume of around 410,000 m³. Its chimney will soar to 100 meters, making the building a true landmark and an iconic gateway to Antwerp. Accurate 3D visualizations allow us to fully anticipate its impact.
The facility will be enclosed by a 50-meter clearspan parabolic structure, completely independent of the plant itself. No columns or supports will interfere with the installations, allowing future modifications or replacements without altering the outer shell. The design forms a cohesive “shell,” where roof, façade, and structure merge seamlessly. In cross-section, it creates an efficient, economical catenary line; in profile, the curved northern façade—the most visible side from the A12—catches the light beautifully, often highlighted by grazing sunlight. This approach creates a warmer, more optimistic impression compared to conventional box-shaped buildings, which tend to remain in shadow.
The light green metal façade transitions gradually into the roof, blending naturally with the surrounding sky, greenery, and sunlight. The effect is a building that appears to dissolve gently into the clouds.
The complex is organized into three main sections that reflect its internal process. On the west side, the tipping floor provides a logistics area for unloading waste trucks. At the center, a striking cubic volume houses the concrete waste bunker for temporary storage. Offices are located on the south, park-facing side, while the parabolic process hall and towering chimney anchor the east side, facing the A12.
Translucent sections in the shell allow natural daylight to fill the workspace, creating a pleasant and productive environment. By night, the facility transforms into a luminous beacon along the A12, with strategically placed openings that shimmer like a starry sky.