CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS – BORDEAUX ARCHITECTURE TOURS

how to accommodate 1 million inhabitants in 2030?

Half-day / Full day
15-20 people
Tour by foot + public transportation / by bike / by bus

Large-scale development of an ever growing city

Bordeaux is currently under serious development, expecting 1 million inhabitants by 2030. This development strongly relies on (public) transportation, first on the tramway network since the 2000’s and later on the high speed train connection to Paris (2 hours).

Mainly located on the North-South axis along the Garonne River, several large urban areas, have been or are currently being developed. These areas differ in type of activities, history, urban spaces and inhabitants (from North to South):

Ginko

Ginko eco-district is a private-developed area north of Bordeaux. A new urban piece, it has innovative urban typologies as well as synergy functioning with the surrounding districts (commercial, social housing).

Grand Parc

Grand Parc is the perfect example of a large French-style ensemble, and listed as such by UNESCO in 2007. It brings together ambitious public facilities and remarkable social housing rehabilitation, in particular Lacaton & Vassal’s GHI residence.

Bassins à flots

Les Bassins à flot urban planning has happened through “negotiated urban planning” since the start redevelopment in 2009. This district is home to many housing units, but also facilities with a metropolitan dimension, such as the Chaban-Delmas bridge or Cité du Vin.

Bastide-Niel / Right Bank

The right bank and its current development Bastide-Niel (masterplan by MVRDV) is the territory in current full mutation. It concentrates formerly industrial areas which give rise to numerous housing experiments, in which the proximity to the river is an essential element of.

Euratlantique

With a development over more than 730 ha, the Euratlantique Operation of National Interest (OIN) is undoubtedly the largest urban transformation operation in France. Linked to the development of the high-speed line, it is now involving 3 municipalities: Bordeaux, Bègles and Floirac. It is divided into several districts:

Euratlantique / Gare Saint-Jean and riverbank

Euratlantique first stage was the development of the train station area, train-relatd industrial grounds and the banks to the Garonne river. Its objective was the creation of office space and housing, as well as the renewal of the riverbanks and former slaughterhouses.

Euratlantique / Armagnac et Ars

As an extension of the train station neighbourhood, Armagnac and Ars areas include both new housing operations (by Jean Nouvel, Nicolas Michelin, COSA, etc.) but also buildings with a wooden structure, aiming at supporting local wood industries. The Maison du Projet provides an good overview of the operation and its development.

Euratlantique / Amédée Saint-Germain

Amédée Saint-Germain operation (in progress) embodies the reconquest of former railway lands right in the city center. Density, height, low-rise neighborhood: this district brings together many of current urban issues.

Terres-Neuves

The first urban area to be renewed in the wake of the new tram system, the former Cité Yves-Farges and military barracks have become a district dedicated to housing and education. There are projects by Alexandre Chemetoff (Cité Numérique), LAN and Tania Concko.