Mateo Arquitectura

Architectural coordination of the built complex of a city block and housing design in Bassins à flot (France)
First prize. Invited competition, 2010

Last December, Josep Lluís Mateo was awarded first prize in the invited competition for the design and construction of block B6/B9 in Bassins à flot, Bordeaux (France). The programme comprises a series of dwellings and a commercial strip. These dwellings will have private gardens, a car park and a communal garden area for the residents.

Site

The Bassins à flots are on the left bank of the river Garonne, near the historic centre of Bordeaux. This part of the city, currently being restructured and connected to the centre by a tramline, is intended as an urban eco-district.

The new neighbourhood is laid out around the large stretch of water where the bassins, or docks, are situated. At present, it comprises a landscape of disused industrial and port warehouses, characterized by the presence of the old World War II submarine base.

The outline plan, designed by the ANMA practice, envisions this large stretch of water as a magnet to the constructions around it. It introduces a layout perpendicular to the docks and a system of footpaths providing access.

Block B6/B9 is triangular, bounded by three axes: the Hubert Prom dike to the south, along the docks, Cours Henri Brunet to the west, separating the block from the submarine base, and Cours Dupré Saint Maur to the east. The terrain is relatively flat.

Volume

In response to the intentions of the outline plan, the logical volume is as follows:

_ Implantation of constructions perpendicular to the Bassins. Building up the perimeter. A layout perpendicular to the Bassins frees up a large central empty space between the path and Cours Henri Brunet. This space will be laid out as a garden over the car parks.

The volumes constructed on block B6/B9 aim to build up the perimeter along Cours Henri Brunet and Cours Dupré Saint Maur.

_ High points. Various high points produce communicating lines of sight and depth of vision over the docks, and break down the overall volume. This system means that the buildings in the second and third rows back from the waterfront also have south-facing vistas and views of the water.

_ Building up the northwest and northeast sides of the triangle to create views of the docks.

_ Creating more open space at the centre of the block to produce differing degrees of privacy.

Outdoor Spaces

The project pays particular attention to outdoor spaces at the centre of the block.

The Path, joining up a sequence of public spaces, leads to a vantage point at the centre of the block, following a semi-public route. The lookout point commands views of the docks. Part of the garden on plot A stands on solid ground, so tall trees can be planted there.

The communal spaces on the land earmarked for private gardens on each plot can be used for allotments or gardens at the scale of the site.

Architect: Josep Lluís Mateo
Site: Bàssins-à-flot, Bordeaux (France)
Project: 2010-2011
Surface: 30.000 m2
Budget: 15.000.000 euros