CANOPIA - A wooden tower by Sou Fujimoto
31/03/2016.
[Bordeaux] France
metalocus, CLAUDIA CENDOYA
metalocus, CLAUDIA CENDOYA
Following an invitation by the city of Bordeaux in December 2015, Sou Fujimoto Architects In collaboration with Laisné Roussel and developer Pitch Promotion, have revealed their proposal "Canopia": a 50-meter tall mixed-use timber-frame structure and offering 199 residential units, over 3,770 square meters of commercial offices and 500 square meters of retail outlets in the outskirts of Bourdeaux (France).
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Interior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
Site plan. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Common floor plan. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
General section. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Axonometric view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Axonometric view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Apartments. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Axonometric view of the interior structure. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel
Model. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel. Photography by Roberta Donatini.
Model. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel. Photography by Roberta Donatini.
Model. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel. Photography by Roberta Donatini.
Model. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel. Photography by Roberta Donatini.
Exterior rendered view. Canopia by Sou Fujimoto and Laisné Roussel. Image © Sou Fujimoto Architects, Laisné Roussel, rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph.
The mixed-use complex is included in the phase two of the Armagnac sector development, which takes part of the the Bordeaux Saint-Jean Belcier ZAC (urban development zone). Canopia is designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects and the french practice Laisné Roussel to be environmentally sustainable. Aside from attempting to achieve a "Biosource" certification by using cross-laminated spruce or silver fur timber for the flooring and beams, sustainability is partly achieved by the rooftop gardens, which are connected by raised walkways and allow residents to wander among fruit trees, water reservoirs, and vegetable gardens before hitting the bar/restaurant.
‘What sets this project apart is the proposal for a collection of themed rooftop gardens connected by walkways, particular attention has been paid to delivering quality shared spaces, both on the fringes of the site with the terrace gardens, or at the heart of the development with the green oasis,’ explains the design team.
The themed roof gardens offer a wide range of experiences to the users. Across its separate buildings, a series of walkways connect these themed roof gardens. Offerings vary from an agricultural space with vegetable gardens, fruit trees, compost areas and water reserves; a winter garden; and a terrace with a restaurant and playground. The walkways themselves offer spectacular views of the surrounding hills and the Garonne river.
The wooden frame for the high-rise building was meticulously studied since the tender phase, ensuring that the different technical construction problems were solved. The project uses silver fir and spruce beams and posts. Floors are made from cross-laminated timber, of either silver fir or spruce, using the Mathis ATEX technique for high-rise buildings. Glu-lam timber bars are used in the post-and-beam frame to stabilize the tower. Each building on the site aims for a "Biosourcé" certification. In addition, an H&E A-rating is being sought for the homes, and the offices will have double HQE® BREEAM certification to guarantee their environmental performance.
More information
Architects
Sou Fujimoto Architects, Dimitri Roussel, Nicolas Laisné Associés.
Managing partners
Sou Fujimoto, Nicolas Laisné, Dimitri Roussel.
Project managers
Marie de France, Amandine Quillent.
Team
Victor Deplus, Matthias Aguilar, Augustin Caradec.
Economist
Cabinet Faure.
Bet Tce
Arcadis.
Environmental engineering
Le Sommer.
Wood construction
Mathis.
Landscaping
Etablissement.
Acoustician
Emacoustic.
Building control office
Apave.
Renders
Tamàs Fischer, Morph, laisné roussel, Sou Fujimoto Architects.
Model
Jean Louis Courtois Model and Co.
Photography
Sou Fujimoto Architects + Laisné Roussel + Rendering by Tàmas Fisher and Morph, Roberta Donatini.
Location
Belcier Street, 33800 Bordeaux, France.
Date
2016.
Surface
17.000 sqm.
SOU FUJIMOTO
Sou Fujimoto was born in Hokkaido, Japan on August 4, 1971. In 1994 he graduated in architecture at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo. He established his own architecture studio, the agency Sou Fujimoto Architects, in Tokyo in 2000, and since 2007 a professor at Kyoto University.
He was first noticed in 2005 when he won the prestigious AR – international Architectural Review Awards in the Young architect’s category, a prize that he garnered for three consecutive years, and the Top Prize in 2006.
In 2008, he was invited to jury these very AR Awards. The same year he won the JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) prize and the highest recognition from the World Architecture Festival, in the Private House section. In 2009, the magazine Wallpaper* accorded him their Design Award. Sou Fujimoto published “Primitive Future” in 2008, the year’s best-selling architectural text. His architectural design, consistently searching for new forms and spaces between nature and artifice.
Sou Fujimoto became the youngest architect to design the annual summer pavilion for London’s Serpentine Gallery in 2013, and has won several awards, notably a Golden Lion for the Japan Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale and The Wall Street Journal Architecture Innovator Award in 2014.
Photographer: David Vintiner
