Law Courts - Antwerp, Belgium

Period: 2005-2006

Architect: Richard Rogers & Partners - London (UK)

Client: Interbuild - Antwerp (B)

Roof: JV MBG - Iemants - ME Construct

Used materials: 16.000 m² of stainless steel welded standing seam (AISI 316L, thickness 0,4 & 0,5 mm, finish 2B)

Architect Sir Rogers designed a special roof that resembles a sailing ship. The different roof elements (base 8 x 8 m, height up to 27 m) were assembled in an old shipyard and transported to the building site by ship and exceptional transport. Only the connections and some last flashings had to be done on site. In this way the joint venture was able to complete the 16.000 m² of roof in less than one year, independent of weather conditions. The result is a landmark that gives Antwerp his own architectural building.

This building won: