Among the rivals of the New York architect in the final were Zaha Hadid and Herzog & de Meuron.
Now a high-rise building in the form of a group of sails will appear over the casino complex. Hall was inspired by a painting by René Magritte that adorned the old casino building. It depicts a large sailboat and a mermaid.
In two "sails" a hotel and apartments will be arranged, in the third - a conference center for 2000 people.
With a height of 98 m, the converted casino will become a landmark in this fashionable Flemish resort. The mayor of the city announced that it will be the most original Belgian structure since the installation of Andre Waterkein's Atomium at the International Exhibition in Brussels in 1958.
Not everyone shares his optimism: opponents of Stephen Hall's project say that the skyscraper will obscure the view of the sea and cover large areas of the city with its shadow.
