Ibis Hotel

Project Name
Ibis Hotel
Function
Hotel with approx. 110 rooms and underground car park, combined with apartments
Surface
Total floor surface approx. 5.000 m²
Location
Ghent, Koopvaardijlaan – Kleindokkaai

concept

The Kleindokkaai project is a mixed-use project including a hotel and apartments. It is a collaboration between two clients and two architects’ firms. MOEA is responsible for the design of the apartments, while Bontinck Architecture & Engineering takes care of the design and construction of the underground car park and the hotel.

Project Description

The project area is included in the spatial implementation plan for the “Oude Dokken” [Old Docks] district. The plot to develop is at the northern end of the Z1j housing block and is adjacent to the new Madeleine Park about to be built. A common underground complex has significant practical and economic benefits for both partners. The ramp to the underground car park is located in the short Kleindokkaai (the north side).

The apartments are situated on the west side overlooking the water. The entire hotel is situated on the east side. The column-beam structure planned for the hotel allows for a subsequent reorientation to offices or larger rooms. The same cornice height is maintained for the entire volume. The eaves are at 17 metres, a metre lower than the maximum authorised height. By its architecture, the monolithic volume refers in a contemporary way to the typical port warehouses. Characteristic segmentations, both horizontal and vertical, become apparent in the façade. Horizontally, there is the clear articulation of the base, middle part and pediment. The rhythmic arrangement of the windows and the differences in the masonry depth ensure the vertical segmentation. The public areas of the hotel are all on the ground floor and facing the future park. Here, too, the façade has a more openwork aspect. Rough red brick combined with bare steel or anodized aluminium are the main materials used. They also refer to the port architecture. The window openings are made to look bigger by opening the reveals at an oblique angle. This makes the experience of the building – both the inside out and vice versa – a lot more pleasant. It also allows sunlight farther in the rooms and for longer.