Danish studio 3XN Architects have triumphed in an international design competition for a sweeping cultural complex and Smart City district in Wallonia, Belgium.

Located in the city of Namur at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, and adjacent to the historic Roman citadel and the Wallonian Parliament, the scheme has been envisioned as an economic driver for the region.

At the heart of the scheme is the new Digital Port; a cultural building encompassing a range of leisure activities, which also provides access for citizens and Smart City researchers to modern technologies.

A new public plaza will also be created for visitors to meet, socialise and participate in cultural activities.

3XN’s design concept, described by the studio as a “beautiful game of terraces”, will flow across the site in one continuous gesture, taking inspiration from the river. According to the architects, “soft curves define the project and will connect with visitors in a warm embrace that is human-scaled and friendly.”

Jan Ammundsen, senior partner at 3XN, said: ‘‘The attractiveness of the space takes many forms. It partly comes from the building itself, conceived as a visible symbol of the confluence between the rivers, and offering direct and indirect connections with water. It’s a place that is both sensitive and contemporary; arranged for different activities, with a view over a magnificent and active landscape.’’

The project – which has been developed in collaboration with fellow practices BEE Architects, JNC International, Lateral Thinking Factory and Arcadis – was the unanimous choice of the City of Namur to win the design competition. It will now proceed to the development stage.

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