The site, near the Garonne River, lies within walking distance of the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Bordeaux and was previously occupied by warehouses, rail embankments, and redundant barracks. Through careful retention and renovation of the existing buildings, along with controlled new development, a district will be created that integrates a wide variety of functions including housing along with a variety of public and cultural facilities.

The masterplan follows the layout established by the rail tracks and the barracks. It maintains and densifies all historic structures, railways, and platforms, interpreting the site’s history and making it a starting point for the area’s transformation. Using the layout established by these artefacts, the plan establishes a network of narrow streets between 6 and 10 metres wide. These are designed using a “shared space” approach to create a safe traffic system with pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport on an equal footing to cars. Most streets are one-way, serviced from the riverside or from the opposite avenue. This road, alley and lane network results in an intimate city, with 144 city blocks in the masterplan – resulting in an atmosphere comparable to a historic city centre.

Bastide Niel’s signature appearance is also derived from environmental factors. The shapes of buildings in the plan are determined through strictly applied rules for both daylight and direct sunlight, allowing each building to receive daylight at ground level and a minimum of 2 hours of sun. These “sun cuts”, combined with the 15-metre depth of the buildings that enables natural ventilation, result in sloped roofs that evoke a contemporary reimagining of the traditional European cityscape.

With the realization of MVRDV’s masterplan, Bastide Niel will become a lively extension to the city centre with a mixed programme of 3,400 homes; 27,500m2 of retail; 25,000m2 of offices; 13,500m2 of small premises for such uses as clinics, workshops, and studios; and 54,000m2 of public facilities such as a university building, the municipal archives, a cultural building, a community centre, schools, day care centres, and sport facilities.