Architects: Selva & Maugin Architectes, urbanmakers
Area: 3875 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: urbanmakers + Selva & Maugin Architectes
Manufacturers: Nelissen, MARAZZI, Monier, Orona Group, Velux
Lead Architects: Antoine Motte – urbanmakers
Urban Planner: MVRDV
Structural Engineering: IBA
Thermal Engineer: SOLAB
Landscape Design: LS2
Project Management: Inex
Associate Architect: Louis Maugin – Selva&Maugin
Project Architect and Construction Director: Ronan Jacq – urbanmakers
Architecture Offices: Selva & Maugin architectes
MEP and Environmental Engineer: SOLAB
Cost Estimation: VPEAS
City: Bordeaux
Country: France
B09 Building Island residential project designed by urbanmakers and Selva & Maugin Architectes in Bordeaux contributes to the development of Bastide-Niel by offering 54 social housing units within a sculptural volume that unifies roof and wall in a continuous mineral envelope. Situated on Quai des Queyries and facing the Parc aux Angéliques, the building responds to a heliotropic masterplan shaped by narrow grids and strong roof profiles. The design uses blonde brick and warm-toned tiles to reflect Bordeaux’s architectural heritage, while also addressing domestic scale and urban density. Carefully proportioned windows, deep loggias, opaque panels, and habitable rooftops enhance both privacy and functionality. A central vestibule acts as an open transitional space linking public and private realms, while the elevated ground floor meets floodplain regulations. B09 Building Island demonstrates how a unified architectural language can balance historical reference, livability, and resilience in a contemporary housing context.
Facing Bordeaux’s iconic 18th-century “stone city,” the Bastide-Niel district presents a nontraditional urban form. Planned by urban designer MVRDV, the district follows heliotropic principles and a narrow grid layout, extending the city’s dynamic urban life to the right bank of the Garonne River. The identity of the area is strongly influenced by its roofscape, which features a varied silhouette composed of different scales and sloping planes that contribute to the district’s distinctive and evolving architectural fabric.
Located on Quai des Queyries next to the “Parc aux Angéliques,” the B09 building-island accommodates 54 social rental units. The main challenge involved working within a pre-established building volume while fulfilling residential needs and maintaining a continuous relationship between walls and roofs to achieve a cohesive architectural envelope.
The material palette of the project reflects a traditional mineral aesthetic, employing warm sandy tones that reference Bordeaux’s historic architecture. Blonde brick facades extend naturally into tiled roofing, creating a unified architectural expression. Although the overall form is sculptural, the design prioritizes a domestic character through the use of tactile materials that encourage physical engagement. Openings and programmatic elements are scaled to the human body, ensuring the building remains approachable and familiar.
The project places a strong emphasis on residential comfort through a series of carefully considered design elements, including well-proportioned windows, railings, deep loggias, and subtle facade projections. Habitable rooftops, such as tropéziennes, provide additional outdoor living areas. To ensure privacy in a dense urban setting, opaque lower panels are incorporated into the windows and loggias. Moreover, built-in storage cabinets within the loggias contribute to the functionality of everyday life.
At the center of the project is the “vestibule,” a spacious open passage that provides direct access for residents to their homes. This transitional zone serves as a link between public and private spaces while supporting pedestrian accessibility. In response to floodplain requirements, the ground floor is raised on a plinth to ensure protection against potential water-related risks.
The B09 project brings together aesthetic consistency and functional innovation to address the demands of contemporary urban living. Through the integration of traditional materials, user-focused design, and efficient spatial planning, it contributes meaningfully to the identity of the Bastide-Niel district. The result is a model for sustainable and inclusive housing that thoughtfully combines historical reference with modern architectural solutions.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Bastide-Niel, 33100 Bordeaux, France
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
