The expansion of the building is located directly above the renovated fire station. It has a glass-covered facade to “reflect the complex interaction of shades and colours in the air”, a reference to the building’s location surrounded by water.
The annex measures over 100 metres in length. Resembling a floating ship, the building possesses details that bring diamonds to mind, a reference to Antwerp’s association with the diamond industry.
The exterior of the diamond consists of transparent and opaque triangular facets. This allowed the architects to control the amount of sunlight entering the building. The placement of the facets mimics the nearby River Scheldt.
The design of the building took energy efficiency into account, reaching a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM environmental rating.