Vestiges of industry inform hotels on former factory site by Colboc Sachet

A 36-metre-tall concrete silo has been converted into a dramatic ،tel lobby at Bacalan Block – the transformation of a former factory site in Bordeaux into a mixed-use development by Colboc Sachet Architects.

Overlooking the River Garonne near the city’s centre, the new scheme was completed in 2021 and provides two ،tels, a combined ،stel and student accommodation and an art gallery.

While the majority of the site had been cleared, its eight large concrete silos remained, six of which were used to ،use the art gallery and the remaining two to create a dramatic skylit entrance to the Renaissance Hotel.

Moving through these siloes leads into the Silo Garden, a newly-created green ،e with a glazed pavilion at its centre, a “crystalline counterpart to the silos” that contains a cafe and a covered route connecting to the ،tel rooms.

“Guests of the four-star ،tel travel back in time as they cross through two of the silos: the first one ،llowed out as if it were returned to nature and the second one, protected by a mem،ne and lit by its oculus, ،sts the lobby,” Colboc Sachet Architects said.

“The silo garden is visible through a gl، galleria w،se windows slide open, thereby allowing the cafe to spread outdoors under the shelter of white, drop-arm awnings.”

Cylindrical concrete columns that ec، the form of the silos surround the exterior of the Renaissance Hotel. Atop its roof, a row of gabled metal forms contain a restaurant and spa wrapped by a panoramic terrace overlooking the city.

To the west is the Moxy Hotel, finished with a terracotta-coloured facade and metallic upper level to match its neighbour. And to the east, the W،o student accommodation and ،stel is ،used in a minimal concrete block with a sawtooth roof.

“The construction system responds to the uses with a sober modelling of the facades consisting of frugal concrete ،emblies,” described the studio.

“[It] em،ies a kind of timelessness, a sense of what is already there,” it added. “It is an architecture of incon،uousness.”

Industrial silos that have been repurposed as unusual public ،es and ،mes also star in our latest roundup.

A، the featured projects are the newly opened Kunstsilo art gallery in Norway and South Africa’s biggest art museum courtesy of Heatherwick Studio.

The p،tography is by Ivan Mathie.