Location: Biarritz, France.

Architect: Steven Holl Architects.

The Cité de l’Océan et du Surf is a museum in Biarritz, France, designed by Steven Holl Architects in collaboration with Solange Fabiao. The building’s design is based on the concept of “under the sky” and “under the sea,” with a concave shape forming the main exterior space and a convex structural ceiling forming the exhibition spaces. The building is integrated with the landscape, with a mix of field and local vegetation continuing the concave form of the building plaza towards the ocean. Two glass boulders containing a restaurant and surfer’s kiosk activate the central outdoor plaza and connect to the two great boulders on the beach in the distance. The museum store is located at the intermediate level of the exhibition spaces, with direct access to the entry lobby and the auditorium. The building’s exterior is made of textured white concrete, while the interior of the main space is white plaster and a wooden floor provides under-floor wiring flexibilities. The building is environmentally friendly, with a system of recovering rainwater and a natural vegetation line. The museum explores both surf and sea and their role upon our leisure, science, and ecology. The building’s design won an international competition that included the offices of Enric Miralles/Benedetta Tagliabue, Brochet Lajus Pueyo, Bernard Tschumi, and Jean-Michel Willmotte. The museum’s roof, called “Place de l’Océan,” is developed as a sort of panoramic urban park where visitors can skate, walk, or take part in various events and cineforums. The museum’s exhibition spaces are characterized by curved and soft forms that contribute to the creation of an aquatic and fluid environment. The museum also features a restaurant and an outdoor terrace with open ocean views.

Photo credit: Steven Holl.