Location: Bordeaux, France.

Architect: BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group.

The Maison de l’Économie Créative et de la Culture en Aquitaine (MÉCA) is a 18,000 m2 building located between the River Garonne and Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux. It brings together three regional arts agencies – FRAC for contemporary art, ALCA for cinema, literature and audiovisuals, and OARA for performing arts – into a loop, creating a porous institution for visitors to roam freely between the Quai de Paludate street and the river promenade. Visitors can relax in the spiral pit or dine at the restaurant Le CREM, or enjoy performances in OARA’s 250-seat theatre. MÉCA is a new urban space in Bordeaux, featuring 80-seat cinema, production offices, production studios, storage facilities, 90-seat auditorium, café, and 850 m2 public roof terrace. It is composed of 4,800 prefabricated concrete panels, sandblasted to expose its raw qualities, and yellow granules for brightness and warmth.

It has already seen the arrival of skateboarders, romantic couples, and demonstrations on the promenade. MÉCA’s urban room is a blank canvas for the Bordelais to fill it with their ideas, creativity, and culture.

Photo credit: Laurian Ghinitoiu.