Building in Bordeaux 

NZ: Our projects are mainly located in the city centre, but we are also involved in specific projects in peripheral areas, such as logistics buildings and public facilities in rural settings. Each context presents unique challenges, and as architects, we must approach every situation with interest. In our firm, we share the belief that every place offers an opportunity for architecture and urbanism. This philosophy is particularly reflected in our practice, which is deeply rooted in rehabilitation—whether working with existing buildings, transforming uses or rethinking land through land recycling development.

We work across different parts of the country, but Bordeaux is a city that allows us to closely observe both urban and rural contexts, as the countryside is just at the city's doorstep. This theme is central to our practice.

CL: Bordeaux is a historic city that is expanding, with numerous projects emerging not only in the city centre but also in the surrounding periphery. In France, the periphery typically includes the areas developed on the margins of urban centres, medium-sized cities born in the 1970s after the war, as well as the countryside areas. In these areas, we often encounter non-architectural spaces and common areas lacking identity. Architects today are called upon to engage with these contexts, and we believe it is essential for us to rise to these challenges.

One practice, collective knowledge

NZ: Before founding ZW/A, I ran my own practice, with the other partners working alongside me. In 2020, we decided to join forces and to establish ZW/A with the involvement of seven co-founders. In just four years, we grew rapidly from seven to nearly 25 people. This growth was largely driven by the way we structured our office into four fields—Architecture, Urbanism, Landscape and Programming—which attracted significant interest and commissions.

CL: Nicolas saw the potential in bringing us all together for a new project: a heritage property dedicated to winemaking in central Bordeaux. This project became the foundation of our office and made us aware of the potential of bringing together different skills and expertise. We all share a common vision, emphasising values such as sharing, flexibility, and agility. We believe it’s important to work in a horizontal structure rather than a vertical one when creating projects. Each person contributes ideas, process insights, and concepts, which enriches the project. Everybody has a voice, without following a rigid hierarchy.

NZ: We describe our company as one that finds solutions—solving challenges every day for every project. Our process is centred on users, who play a crucial role in shaping each project. We often refer to the concept of Genius Loci, which we understand as a synthesis of the key factors guiding our approach: a deep knowledge of the place, its stakeholders, and the surrounding environment. When users are happy, the project is successful. That’s the main challenge. Regardless of the scale, the priority must always be the people using the space. Listening is key. In the end, architecture is about understanding and responding to people’s needs.

MS: The Queyries project that brought us together engages with the city through its location near the river, seamlessly integrating urban and landscape contexts. It is highly visible and also speaks to heritage, as it involves transforming a historic property dedicated to winemaking with a distinct identity and construction history. Adapting its program and users was both a great opportunity and a major challenge.

CL: The project demanded expertise across multiple disciplines, making ZW/A’s structure a key strength in our proposal. By integrating diverse skills, we tackled the complexities of large-scale projects. Our role is to ensure that the right architectural and urban planning responses are made. We call this process ‘programming’ in French, and at ZW/A, we have a dedicated team for it.

NZ: ZW/A was designed to unite a diverse group of experts, creating a knowledge hub that allows us to tackle various challenges and work across different scales. Our portfolio includes projects in education, healthcare, social housing, offices, sports facilities, markets, and cultural spaces.

CL: This diversity of skills is what makes us unique. Every project benefits from the collective expertise of our team. Although each partner has their own specialty, we maintain a collaborative approach, exchanging knowledge regularly.

Building on multiple foundations

NZ: ZW/A is structured around four main pillars: Architecture, Urbanism, Landscape, and Programming. These fields can operate independently but always interact, enriching one another.

CL: Architecture alone cannot solve every problem—it must be considered in relation to different scales. That’s why we integrate urbanism, landscape, and programming into our practice. We always refer to the Genius Loci—heritage, social, cultural, and environmental factors—when shaping our projects. Just like in cooking, the right combination of ingredients determines the outcome.

NZ: When a new project enters the office, we form a small team of two or three partners, supported by a larger team of about six or seven people. Every week, we hold meetings with all partners to review ongoing projects, ensuring that everyone is informed. Once a month, we present selected projects to the entire studio. These presentations take place in our office or at construction sites, where we discuss challenges and seek advice. It’s an opportunity for collective learning, followed by a shared lunch.

KH: This approach fosters collaboration between disciplines. For example, landscape designers present their projects to assistant architects, facilitating knowledge exchange and problem-solving. With multiple projects happening simultaneously, everyone must stay informed. When competitions arise, team members can redistribute their workload accordingly, ensuring efficiency and adaptability. This method strengthens our ability to support each other, ensuring that ZW/A remains agile and responsive to every challenge we take on.

Finding the synthesis in complexity

NZ: Last year, we won a competition in southwestern France (Landes), in a town near the Atlantic coast. This project, called Bellocq, synthesises our practice, as it integrates different programs and activities into a single space. We are transforming an old industrial estate into a sociocultural multi-programme, revealing a new architectural identity. This competition was unique: the mayor wanted a team that listened to the community’s needs, capable of building the project with the residents and future users. He believed that we were the right team for the job.

MS: It’s an old factory that has been abandoned for years, allowing nature to reclaim parts of it. This project involves landscape, architecture, activities, and transportation as it is near the ocean and a major transit axis. It is an existing building, therefore we proposed working with what is already there—opening walls, connecting spaces and nature. It’s a fundamental part of our practice to demonstrate that rehabilitation is more sustainable than demolition and reconstruction. We can transform heritage into new uses, and the possibilities are vast.

CL: The project brings together 12 activities, each involving different groups of people. It includes a media library, a tourism office, a library, a multipurpose space, a youth hostel, and a fab lab. We have to be attentive to all stakeholders, negotiating not just with the city but also with the building itself—it cannot accommodate every function, so we must find the right balance. Our proposal wasn’t just about a finished architectural design; it was about how we would involve and listen to people throughout the process. Architecture is part of a broader project addressing multiple challenges. Instead of presenting ourselves solely as architects, we positioned ourselves as urban makers, landscapers, and architects, emphasising the importance of public space. Public space was at the heart of our proposal—opening the building to the city. That’s what convinced the jury.

MS: The project involves rethinking the landscape, exterior pathways, and activities to create a cohesive vision. It’s about working with the existing and making it relevant for the future.

CL: Given the project's complexity, we collaborated with partners and specialists to address various technical aspects. Throughout the process, staying close to users was essential. We worked with them to shape the best possible outcome. Additionally, we collaborated with experts in structure, thermal performance, acoustics, and other fields.

MS: The competition called for a clear methodology. We focused our approach on the site's relationship to its context: its connection to the street, to the residents and more broadly, the city—to bring public space to the heart of the project. We proposed a methodology rooted in uses, the relationships to be created, and the thresholds to be defined, with a particular focus on atmospheres and spatial transitions.

A unique office space

NZ: ZW/A is based in an old gallery, and even though we are an architecture office, we wanted to maintain a connection with the art world. That’s why we host small exhibitions in our office, using the front facade as a display. It acts as a window to the city, where we feature artists from different places. This is part of our dialogue with heritage, and we continue this tradition.

MS: Art creates opportunities for connection and exchange. Architecture and art are deeply intertwined, and this practice enriches everyone in the office. Engaging with artists brings fresh perspectives and fosters creativity.

NZ: We work with external curators who select the artists. Every three months, new artists are chosen, and they present their work to the studio. Sometimes it’s architecture-related, but we also work with sculptors, painters, and photographers.

MS: We are fortunate to have private presentations where we can ask artists about their practice, their vision, and how they adapt their work to this space. The gallery itself has its own Genius Loci, and artists respond to it by shaping their work accordingly. Afterwards, we open the exhibition to the public, offering visibility to the artists.

CL: This is another form of architecture. While we are involved in large-scale projects, this is a different kind of architectural endeavour. It’s a way to show that we are not just an architectural practice—we are a multidisciplinary firm embracing diversity.