BEL002 – JACQUES BREL PIER
The new J. Brel Pier will be a spectacular landmark in the Zeebrugge harbor. Seen from the water, it marks the entrance to the docks, articulating at the same time the separation between the Prince Albert dock and Tide dock. Seen from the land, it is one more shape and volume in the series of urban landscape elements which include the Fisherman’s Cross, the RBSC clubhouse, the West Hinder lightship, the Russian submarine and the old fish market. The pier itself presents a new loop in the walkway and doing so it creates a lower spot right in the middle of the dock. Formally the pier looks like a folded spoon. A bowl keeps it afloat, having it move up and down with the tide. The spoon’s handle connects it to the land side. Because it moves with the tides it always remains at the same level as the River Palace! The construction of the pier is extremely simple. It’s essentially a pontoon connected to the quay by a bridge. The choice of a floating pier is conceptually, structurally as well as economically the most logical!