Bordeaux takes care of its image, its cultural branding. Three years after the Wine Museum opening designed by X-TU, the Danish architectural firm BIG bring his stone to the French wine city. Meca needs to three years of construction and costed 52 million euros with 18 000 m2.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
Together without division
The Meca (stands for:” Maison de l’Economie Créative et de la Culture en Aquitaine”) gathers three independent cultural institutions, each with its own constraints and its own entrance.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
The Danish architect Bjarke Ingels who is inspired by the urban frame has proposed a place which is woven into the urban promenades and creates a space of cultural experience with a singular architectural shape, the loop. From a morphological point of view, the loop is simple. Bjarke Ingels plays the card of unity, unifies diverse cultural institutions and the urban unity for the inhabitants of Bordeaux.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
Some well-framed views
The Danish architects have once again indented the façade with a checkerboard logic. Define the logic of construction strength, the indetentions offer a necessary porosity to render an elegance work. The colorimetry of the facade is inspired by stone from Port de la Lune, a place registered at the UNESCO.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
A place oriented to the urban life
The big stairs in front of the visitors serve as bleachers for free and spontaneous events. In the central place, Bjarke Ingels draws a 1 100m2 square with a discreet LED signage, which remain on throughout the night.
The attention of the architects is highlighted through their work for people with reduced mobility. These people can easily access the main passages to the entrance of this building.
© BIG
Once in the interior of Meca, the different spaces are in raw concrete. The concrete itself is revealed. Once arrived at the Frac de la Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the visitor can have fresh air from the panoramic terrasse. This roofing allows us to see the heart of Bordeaux and Saint-Michel Basilic.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
A steel bridge set on two concrete posts
The structure of the Meca was designed by the engineers of Khephren and built by GTM Bâtiment Aquitaine. Both posts in concrete host two cultural institution. The steel bridge hosts the Frac de la Nouvelle Aquitaine, a regional museum of Modern Art. Together, the different public facilities create a loop.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
The cladding is composed of 4 800 precast concrete slabs (3,60 m by 60 cm with 250 kg). The main problem of this cladding was to sustain the concrete slab that was the most inclined. Two rules were imagined by the engineers of Khephren to validate the construction technique and the team was allowed to build the building.
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
- Architect: BIG
- Client: Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Associated Architects : Freaks architecture, Lafourcade & Rouquette architectes
- MEP: Alto
- Structure: Khephren Ingénierie
- Environnement: Cap Terre
- Facade : Lüchinger+Meyer
- Economy: Vpeas
- Acoustics: Cabinet conseil Vincent Hedont
- Scenography: Ducks Scéno
- Lighting: Ph.A & A-Concepteurs
- Artist: Petra Mrzyk
- Graphist: ABM Studio
- Planning and Management: CRX Ouest
- Construction: GTM Bâtiment Aquitaine
- 2012 : competition date
- may 2016 : start of construction
- 28 june 2019: Public opening
- Area: 18 000 m2
- Budget: 52 000 000 €
