BIG's proposal arranges a center for contemporary art, the performing arts institution and the center for literature and movies around a "public space" open towards the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne River. The building is conceived as a single loop of "public space" and cultural institutions as the pavement of the promenade rises to form the roof of the main lobbies, then snakes through the programmatic hearts of the 3 institutions.
The building and promenade is clad in the limestone which constitutes the majority of Bordeaux's architecture. During festivals or other special occasions in the city, the outside of the MECA can be transformed into a stage for outdoor concerts, theatrical spectacles or art installations.
Type: competition
Size: 12 350 square metres
Client: Conseil regional d'Aquitaine
Collaborators: FREAKS freearchitects, dUCKS sceno, Khephren Ingenierie, VPEAS, ALTO Ingenierie, Vincent Hedont, PBNL, Mryk & Moriceau, Ph.A
Location: Bordeaux, France
Partner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Andreas Klok Pedersen
Project Leader: Gabrielle Nadeau
Project Architect: Jan Magasanik
Team: Edouard Champelle, Lorenzo Boddi, Yang Du, Karol Borkowski
