Bassins à flot Housing by Josep Lluís Mateo, Bordeaux Residential Building, Property Design
Bassins à flot Housing in Bordeaux
Contemporary Homes in South West France – design by Josep Lluís Mateo architect
7 Jun 2017
Urban planning and housing in Bordeaux
Design: Mateo Arquitectura
Location: Bordeaux, France
Bassins à flot Housing, Bordeaux
In the Garonne river port, Bassins à flot, Bordeaux.

As though washed up here by nearby waters, rises the hulk of the World War II submarine base.

Beside us, other remains of the shipwreck: some small constructions that have to be integrated into the project (see ‘A’ in grey model photo lower down the page).

The water table is very high. We cannot excavate to build car parks.
We build two storeys right across the plot, introducing the car parks at the centre and arranging dwellings around them, with services along the front.
In this case, the floor is porticoed, drawing the perspective from the street towards the old submarine base. Three volumes are arranged on this platform.

(B) is very low (2 floors), and metal. A small, shiny animal that accompanies the existing dwellings.
(C) at the corner, a small tower with four façades. Two metal faces, two timber faces.
(D) A concrete-walled block that follows the limits of the plot and defines the urban from towards its sides.
(E) The centre is an open, communal garden, offering views and sunlight to the dwellings behind.

The whole, seen from the old port, is mob...