The Vision

From the start, we wanted the website to reflect the beauty and importance of the Wintercircus building while making it easy and enjoyable for people to use. I worked closely with Creative Director Stijn Jansen to develop a site that evolved as Wintercircus grew—from a simple landing page to a full digital experience with an interactive 3D model, an event calendar, and tools for lead generation.

Creating a Real-Time 3D Experience

One of the most exciting features of Wintercircus.be is the real-time 3D model of the building, which lets users explore the space interactively. Using Blender, I built a detailed 3D model based on architectural plans, then used Three.js to bring it to life on the web.

To enhance the visuals, I designed custom post-processing effects and shaders. Initially, we aimed for a futuristic, high-tech look, but after gathering feedback, we shifted to a lighter, blueprint-style wireframe design. This made the experience more user-friendly while maintaining an artistic and technical edge.

A Modular and Scalable Design

Scalability and flexibility were key to the website’s development. I used Next.js as the frontend framework to keep everything fast and efficient, while Contentful CMS allowed the Wintercircus team to manage content easily.

Even the 3D animations were designed to be customizable. By using Theatre.js, I enabled animations to be saved as JSON files and edited within Contentful, meaning that non-technical team members could adjust animations without writing code.

Backend Development and Event Integration

Aside from the interactive frontend, the website also needed a strong backend to manage events and customer interactions. Since Wintercircus operates as a venue, networking hub, and event space, a reliable event system was necessary.

Key backend features included:

• Odoo CRM integration using XMLRPC, overcoming limited documentation to ensure smooth operation.

• Uit In Vlaanderen API integration, allowing external event listings to sync with Wintercircus’ event schedule.

• A custom-built lead-generation form system, which used Odoo’s Survey tools to create personalized registration forms for different audiences.

Ensuring High Performance & Accessibility

Because the site contains detailed 3D visuals and animations, I focused heavily on performance and accessibility. I followed HTML5 best practices and tested the site on various devices to ensure smooth performance.

The results have been excellent—Vercel Analytics reports a Real Experience Score of 100 for Desktop and 93 for Mobile, and the site handles tens of thousands of visitors per month without issues.

Reception and Impact

Wintercircus.be launched in stages, starting with a teaser site in late 2023. The first version had a darker, high-tech theme, but by the official opening of the building, the website had fully transitioned to the lighter, more refined design.

The feedback has been fantastic. CEO Louis Jonckheere described the website as "a piece of art."

The engagement numbers also show the impact:

• Tens of thousands of visitors per month

• Hundreds of successful applications for Wintercircus’ exclusive networking club, The Collective

Ongoing Updates & Future Features

Wintercircus.be continues to grow. The most recent addition is Betsy, an AI-powered chatbot created by Rookoo.ai, a startup based at Wintercircus Campus. Future updates will bring even more interactivity and functionality.

Conclusion

Wintercircus.be is a perfect example of how technology can bring architecture to life. By integrating real-time 3D models, a flexible content system, and a powerful backend, the site serves as both an informative tool and a digital experience.

This project gave me the chance to apply my skills in WebGL, backend development, and scalable web architecture to create something truly unique. As Wintercircus continues to grow, so will its online presence, making this site an ever-evolving piece of digital storytelling.