Global Inspiration: Ilot Queyries, Bordeaux

Winner of the ArchDaily Building of the Year – Housing 2022, Ilot Queyries is situated next to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Old Town of Bordeaux.

The ingenious design  fills the site to its boundaries, lending an intimate feeling to the streetscape, while the roofs are arranged into carefully calibrated slopes to provide maximum ventilation, daylight, and sun to the building itself and to its neighbours.

“The Covid-19 pandemic showed everyone how valuable outdoor spaces close to their homes can be, and I hope Ilot Queyries can show that such amenities don’t require compromise”, says MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas. “The building creates close and intimate streets without ugly parked cars thanks to its ample car parking. At the same time every apartment is provided a balcony or loggia, while the green park space becomes a wonderful community amenity.”

“This project served as preparation for the grander plan of the Bastide Niel development”, adds Maas. “With this project we were able to test some of our ideas, which resulted in a masterplan with more greenery in the streets, better cost optimisation for façades, and more open courtyards.”

The lightweight, durable ceramic façade – a key part of the design – was manufactured by Agrob Buchtal, our exclusive partners for ceramic rainscreen in the UK.