Kursaal Casino, Ostend, Belgium

The original Kursaal was built back in 1878 as a theatre and event venue for Ostend, Belgium's biggest coastal resort, but was unfortunately destroyed in the Second World War. In 1950, architect Léon Stynen designed the 10,000-m² building that would become Europe's largest casino, featuring a number of works by artist Paul Delvaux.
Pyrobel glass was used in many parts of the interior during the recent refurbishment. The 2,000 seat auditorium and the lounge bar are protected by glass partitions with a thickness of 25 mm and a fire-resistance rating of EI60 (i.e. able to keep fire at bay for an hour) and acoustic properties specially tailored to this setting. The transparency of the protective glass extending from floor to ceiling ensures these spaces are bathed in natural light.