Transformation of 530 homes - Grand Parc Bordeaux by Lacaton & Vassal architectes, Frédéric Druot Architecture and Christophe Hutin Architecture is the winning work of 2019: An innovative renovation of three large blocks of social housing in Bordeaux that radically improves the space and the quality of life of its occupants and optimizes the economic and environmental costs.
The project consists in the transformation of 3 social housing’s buildings of 530 dwellings. Built in the early 60’s, they needed a renovation after their demolition has been ruled out. The transformation of the dwellings full occupied, starts from the interior, to give them new qualities: more space, more light, more view, and upgrade the facilities.
The project consists in the transformation of 3 social housing’s buildings of 530 dwellings. Built in the early 60’s, they needed a renovation after their demolition has been ruled out. The transformation of the dwellings full occupied, starts from the interior, to give them new qualities: more space, more light, more view, and upgrade the facilities.
The Jury valued that the project challenges the existing European housing stock from the post war period, using minimum means to achieve a maximum effect. Instead of demolishing, which involves the use of an important amount of energy, in this case the client understood and supported the advantages of transforming the existing three buildings. This has changed people’s lives for the better without underestimating their previous lives, filling the new volume with poetry because it works with the basis that people understand space and in consequence, they use it in very different ways.
At a moment in which the commissions for new social housing blocks ask for a reduction of the surface of flats, here the volume is increased, offering dignity and giving more value to the individual and to the collective. The ensemble becomes an optimistic opportunity for social housing and modernity, being generous and also changing architecture and the possibilities of architecture. The architects show a very high acknowledgement of who – a mix of inhabitants – and what – the results from previous research on transformation – they are working with. This results in a refined way of working with people, space and materials although the improvement in the collective could have been stronger if the opportunities in the relationship with the street would have been different.
At a moment in which the commissions for new social housing blocks ask for a reduction of the surface of flats, here the volume is increased, offering dignity and giving more value to the individual and to the collective. The ensemble becomes an optimistic opportunity for social housing and modernity, being generous and also changing architecture and the possibilities of architecture. The architects show a very high acknowledgement of who – a mix of inhabitants – and what – the results from previous research on transformation – they are working with. This results in a refined way of working with people, space and materials although the improvement in the collective could have been stronger if the opportunities in the relationship with the street would have been different.
EMERGING ARCHITECTURE 2019.
The prize has been awarded to the Toulouse studio BAST for the School Refectory in Montbrun-Bocage, Haute-Garonne, near the French Pyrenees, an extension of a small village school which closes the playground physically but not visually.
The jury was drawn by the extremely precise implementation and design decisions which make the refectory a remarkable project built on a relatively small budget. The work was done with extreme humbleness, taking into account the context of the village and the immediate landscape, thereby creating a very respectful work of architecture.
As Benjamin Aubry, architect and expert of the EU Mies Award expressed, the simplicity of its devices and construction offers generous space, excellent capacity of use and immense poetry.
As Benjamin Aubry, architect and expert of the EU Mies Award expressed, the simplicity of its devices and construction offers generous space, excellent capacity of use and immense poetry.
Five finalists were selected and visited by the Jury: Terrassenhaus Berlin / Lobe Block; Plasencia Auditorium and Congress Centre; PC CARITAS in Melle; Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and the blocks in Bordeaux, accompanied by the authors of the works, the clients or developers and the users. The jury visited six works of architecture that represent a new agenda for architecture today. We come from a long period of uncertainty which is now transforming into optimism and generosity, and that awakens an attitude that embraces risk both from the side of the clients and of the architects. The finalists delivered extraordinary and engaging buildings and spaces in complex conditions, making the jury’s choice very difficult. After five hours of a strongly constructive debate, the decision was taken democratically and also with the conviction that, after visiting all the works, they would all have been worthy winners.
The winners will be celebrated at the EU Mies Award Day on May 7 in Barcelona:
15:30 at the Victoria Eugenia Palace
- EU Mies Talks: conferences of winners and finalists + debate between members of the jury, promoters, users, experts and communicators.
- Inauguration of the traveling exhibition EU Mies Award 2019 + presentation of the catalog.
- Inauguration of the traveling exhibition EU Mies Award 2019 + presentation of the catalog.
18:30 in the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
- Awards Ceremony: a celebration that will start the Architecture Week of Barcelona and the EU Mies Award Architecture Days in which the finalist and winning works will organize open-door activities.
The “EU Mies Award 2019 exhibition” will embark on its tour around Europe with an opening at BOZAR, Brussels on September 13 and will continue to other cities in 2019 and 2020.
