Grand Parc, Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Consisting in the transformation of three inhabited social buildings, the project was the first phase in the renovation of the Cité du Grand Parc. Built in the early 1960s, this housing development counts over 4,000 dwellings. The three buildings G, H and I – standing 10 to 15 storeys high – include 530 dwellings and offered the potential to be transformed into beautiful apartments with redefined qualities and comfort. The addition of winter gardens and balconies allowed each apartment to enjoy more natural light, greater fluidity of use and wider views. From the inside, the panorama of Bordeaux is unique thanks to the city’s low topography, providing an extraordinary living situation. For buildings G, H and I, a generous, economic and sustainable approach was adopted to immediately attain the qualities of highrise buildings for high-quality residences, defined as examples of responsible housing for the future. The project’s overall economy is based on the choice of conserving the existing buildings without carrying out major interventions on the structures, stairs or floors.
Grand Parc, Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, Bordeaux, France, 2017
This strategy made it possible to focus resources on generous extensions that are, in our view, key to enhancing the dwellings’ quality and dimensions in a lasting manner. These extensions expand the space of use and the evolution of the dwellings, as well as offering the opportunity, as in a house, to live outside while being at home. The apartments open onto large winter gardens and balconies, and offer pleasant outdoor spaces that are large enough to be fully utilised: 3.80 metres deep on the south facades of buildings H and I, and on the 2 facades of building G. Interventions to improve the interiors and restructure the bathrooms are also planned. The gardens at the foot of the buildings have been enhanced, facilitating their access and use. The project also deals with the overall performance of the building envelope, as well as the reconfiguration of vertical circulations and access halls. (from the architects’ project description)