530 Dwellings in Bordeaux

Refurbishing the collective housing constructions built during the boom of the 1950s and 1960s is one of the main problems in European cities. A problem that, faced with common sense and talent, can lead to projects that are not just necessary but also interesting. Of this kind is the transformation of 530 social dwellings in Bordeaux undertaken by Lacaton Vassal, Frédéric Druot, and Christophe Hutin, who have managed to produce an energy-efficient and functional solution, and elegant in an urban sense, and which was distinguished with Mies van der Rohe Award given every two year by the European Union with the objective of “acknowledging architectural quality” in Europe. Presided by Dorte Mandrup, the jury rewarded the project of the team led by Lacaton Vassal, and chose it over the other four shortlisted works: the Congress Center of Plasencia, by Selgascano; the Terrasenhouse in Berlin, by Brandlhuber+ Emde, Burlon, and Muck Petzet Architekten; Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, by the Belgians 51N4E, Anri Sala, Plant en Houtgoed, and iRI; and PC Caritas in Melle, by Architecten De Vylder Vinck Taillieu.