Harmonious interplay of lines for exclusive residential and hotel complex

The 'La Rive' residential complex is the final part of the prestigious La Réserve project in Knokke-Heist. On the banks of the Zegemeer lake, residents enjoy their luxury flats and the peaceful green surroundings. Central to the overall concept of La Réserve is the hotel of the same name, which, like the apartment buildings, was designed with respect for the typical style that characterises the fashionable seaside resort.

Hotel La Réserve has been a household name in Knokke-Heist since 1949. So when Compagnie het Zoute conceived the plan to develop the adjacent land on the site in 2004, its preservation was a must. The property developer called in Luc Declercq of EL Architects to design a total concept, with the hotel as the central focus. From there, the architect worked out two symmetrical residential wings on either side. The hotel lies at the centre of what Knokke-Heist calls its cultural axis. This runs from the casino over La Réserve and cultural centre de Scharpoord to the renewed area of Duinenwater. The RUP stipulated that the hotel should have a 10m by 10m opening to visualise that axis. "That largely determined the appearance of the stately hotel. For the flat blocks, I deliberately chose a balanced construction with a calm appearance that emphasises the traditional look of the Zoute," says Luc Declercq.

The first phase of the project saw the construction of the eastern residential wing and the hotel. The second phase included the construction of 'La Rive', the western wing of the residential complex. "There was some time between the two executions, so we updated the initial concept to the current zeitgeist," Luc Declercq continues. "This translated into a different housing typology, with a mix of two- to five-bedroom flats."

In terms of architecture, Luc Declercq stayed true to his original idea. "We wanted to create a harmonious whole from a horizontal and vertical interplay of lines between the hotel and the flat blocks. For the façade of La Rive, we chose the same natural stone as that of the first phase. 

This white stone embodies the typical Knokke-Heist, but is more aesthetic than a white-painted brick. Moreover, the natural stone is more durable due to its dirt-repellent, self-cleaning character. The appearance is reminiscent of grandiose buildings in Paris. On the Zegemeer side, the lower storey is clad in bluestone, which is also found on the hotel façade. For the roof, too, we stayed true to the red tiles from phase one."

Both at the front and rear, the luxurious flats have deep terraces with clamped glass balustrades, which give the façade a powerful appearance. At the bottom, the balustrades end in aluminium profiles, which have been specially folded and drawn to ensure optimal drainage and thus prevent rainwater from seeping over the white stone.

In terms of insulation and ventilation standards, the initial design was ahead of its time. Luc Declercq: "Our concept was developed before 2010. Yet from the beginning we aimed for high-quality insulation and powerful ventilation systems. As a result, we did not have to adjust our plans during the second phase. What did require attention was the linking of the underground garages. Initially, both apartment buildings were to have two basement levels. La Rive ended up having only one. As a result, we had to revise the temporary walls on the second level of the east wing. Furthermore, we also built retaining structures to avoid draining the Zegemeer when building the basement. Finally, due to the presence of the hotel, the smoke and heat extraction system (RWA) was quite substantial, both in terms of technology and underground ductwork. For this, we integrated a large air vent in the armpit of the building. There is also an emergency generator for smoke evacuation in case of fire."

Led by Glenn Sestig Architects, the interior of hotel La Réserve is undergoing an extensive makeover. On the ground floor, the lobby will be redesigned, including a restaurant led by Peter Goossens. The opening is scheduled for this summer.