Architects: A6A
Photographs: Agnès Clotis, Rory Gardiner
Category: Residential Architecture, Buildings
Design Team: A6A
City: Bordeaux
Country: France
Capable Volumes residential project, designed by A6A in the Brazza district of Bordeaux, has introduced a scalable housing model to address the challenges of urban sprawl and affordability. Developed within the master plan coordinated by Youssef Tohmé, the project supports long-term inhabitant agency through flexible spatial design. Apartments were handed over as a minimum of 18 m² base units, code-compliant and ready for occupancy, with the structural capacity to grow up to 90 m² or 150 m². Completed in collaboration with Eden Promotion, the buildings prioritize low-cost construction techniques despite complex soil conditions and regulatory constraints.
“Giving freedom in ways of living means giving perspective and openness to residents. It enables optimistic relationships with society and the world,” said architect Youssef Tohmé, whose master plan guided the development of Bordeaux’s Brazza district.
Within this urban framework, A6A designed two adaptable residential buildings focused on retaining families within city limits through low-cost, large-area housing. The initiative, driven by the City of Bordeaux and supported by developer Eden Promotion, responds to economic and spatial challenges with a model of progressive occupation.
The project addresses severe site constraints—such as polluted soils and special foundation requirements—by developing a pragmatic construction system. Each unit begins as an 18 m² regulatory-compliant core. Residents can gradually expand these into mezzanine-equipped dwellings, ultimately reaching 90 m² or 150 m², depending on typology. This system allows for organic spatial development over time.
A6A’s design transforms double-height spaces into “Capable Volumes,” allowing owners to define their domestic environments. Each apartment is divided into two sections: a ready-to-live-in base unit and a separate adaptable space, separated by a demountable partition. Future modifications, including mezzanine additions, are enabled by pre-installed infrastructure—technical shafts, HVAC systems, and water outlets—designed for flexibility and autonomy between households.
The project encourages a new paradigm of collaborative and incremental cohabitation. Residents are envisioned not only as users but as future constructors of their living environments. The architecture proposes a shift in real estate thinking around collective housing and supports adaptability as a response to family growth and societal transformation.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Bordeaux, France
The location specified is intended for general reference and may denote a city or country, but it does not identify a precise address.
