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'MECA' by BIG + FREAKS freearchitects, bordeaux, france
all images courtesy of BIG + FREAK freearchitects

danish practice BIG and french firm FREAKS freearchitects, have won a competition to design 'MECA', the maison de
l'economie creative et de la culture en equitane in bordeaux, france. positioned along the historic garonne riverfront, the looping structure
willcontain three regional visual and performing arts agencies within one location, framing a centralized and outdoor public space
for events overlooking the water. the 12,000 square meter building integrates contemporary art, a performing arts institution,
and center for literature and movies. a promenade rises to form a roof above the lobbies, generating the urban room's stage with
skylit galleries below and then returns to ground level to continue the pedestrian route.

the looping structure frames a centralized outdoor performing space
'when a region or a city invests millions in a major new cultural institution - it often ends up benefiting only the informed
few that already have an interest in the arts. not only does the méca
spill its activities into the public realm and the urban room,
but the public is also invited to walk around, through, above and below
the new cultural gateway. by inviting the art into the city
and the city into the arts, the méca will provide opportunities for new
hybrids of cultural and social life beyond the specific definitions
of its constituent parts.' - bjarke ingels, founding partner, BIG

rooftop terrace
'the three regional entities composing the program are idiomatic to the french public way of supporting and promoting culture
all over the territory. working on the méca building in bordeaux is a great occasion to cross views and balance between
international references and local issues.' - guillaume aubry, cyril gauthier & yves pasquet, founding partners, FREAKS freearchitects

centralized outdoor performing space

interior space transitioning from the outdoor performance area

interior performing space

interior

model

model

rooftop terrace

centralized outdoor performance area

at night





project info:
type: competition
client: conseil regional daquitaine
collaborators: Freaks freearchitects, ducks sceno, khephren ingeniere, upers, alto ingeniere, vincent hedo NT, PBNL, myrk & moriceru, PH.R
size: 12,350 m2
location: bordeaux, france
status: in progress
sorry, we’re out of spacial ideas, but we can do nice renderings, though
SO much space to do SO little.
So bad
The worst combination of architects ever.
stupid project
go back playing ping pong
I personally like the slipway and the red crocodile: HA!
Did you know that crocodiles and gators can move their liver to change their center of gravity while in water?
Cheers!
These Freak-guys are up and coming!
We absolutely love the interior – did you have a look at the red artefact extending from the ceiling? Mind blowing if you ask me! Great design I hope would see the light of day.
[url=http://www.hollandgreen.co.uk/] Holland and Green [/url]