Loïc Brenterc’h (A.B.A agency) + Ewan Marin (COT agency) shared with us their Europan 11 Proposal in Toulouse, France which won the second prize. Titled ‘META – Block: A Toulouse Urban Model’, the purpose of their design is to extend and redefine the historical city way of life. The inhabitant’s habits and living visions have changed but they still need to feel the Toulouse cultural vibes. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Our approach is tending to generate a specific contextual urbanism by digging into the site’s multi faces of identity, its belonging, its time. But also by combining its new particular train station district which aims to be both residential and working within a fast moving pace and a traditional urban rhythm. Our proposal is to develop a new Toulouse district identity made in the 21st century.
The strategic location of the train station implies a larger impact on the adjacent districts. This is why we chose to enlarge the study perimeter up to the new redevelopment of the train station. Our reflection has lead us to define the public space, the pedestrian and road network strategy, by thinking the enlarged site as one. In 2020, the new train station district will be seen as the new Toulouse image, directly connected to the multi-modal platform.
The meta-block can be defined as a contemporary mutation of the traditional Toulouse block. The architectural composition is taking its source from the existing urban context. We have searched for a Toulouse architecture that is responding to our actual and tomorrow’s living values. Our approach is to be able to qualify it, name it, and give it a justified belonging. At the garden side, the meta-block is allowing an abundant natural light to come in every flat; it also offers large terraces, a double orientation, and private/shared gardens. The green and built networks are overlapping each other to become one.
Architects: Loïc Brenterc’h (A.B.A agency) + Ewan Marin (COT agency) Location: Toulouse, France Assistants: Nelly Bussac, Gwenael Massot, Tibaut Stephan Prize: 2nd price, Europan 11 Toulouse
