The European Union has awarded its annual architecture prize to Transformation of 530 Dwellings, a renovation of 1960s housing in France by Frédéric Druot Architecture, Lacaton & Vassal Architectes and Christophe Hutin Architecture.
The trio of architecture practices wins the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture ? Mies van der Rohe Award for the project that saw them restore three social housing blocks in Grand Parc Bordeaux.
Demolition was ruled out so the studios instead designed subtle interventions to make the homes brighter, with more outdoor space at every level.
Transformation of 530 Dwellings is a renovation of three 1960s housing blocks
This the second time in the row where the renovation of a public housing scheme has won the prestigious biennial prize, also known as the EU Mies Award, which recognises the best European buildings completed in the past two years. In 2017 it went to NL Architects and XVW Architectuur's revamp of a 1960s slab block in the Netherlands that had also escaped demolition.
This helps to highlight the ongoing plight of postwar social housing blocks across Europe, many of which are currently under threat.
A new facade was added to each block, creating winter gardens and balconies
"The EU Mies Award brings together the diversity of European architecture and culture and promotes architecture worldwide," said Dorte Mandrup, who was chair of the 2019 award.
"Every two years it sets new directions for arch...