La Source, media library and centre for eco-citizenship in Le Bouscat (France)

The new building and its function are immediately intelligible as one approaches from Rue Emile Zola, thanks to clear signage positioned on the east façade, while the main entrance is situated on Rue Formigé, thereby creating a direct connection with the bus stop opposite. The building’s accessibility via public transport and its inherent eco-mobility is therefore clearly brought to the fore and visually underscored.

To avoid the broken lines created by positioning the building on Rue Émile Zola, the architects at King Kong chose to create a sense of visible continuity between La Source and the neighbouring post office. The run of facades opposite the new building also respect this principle of alignment, and their choice therefore endows the immediate area with a sense of urban coherence. Any sense of meaningless dispersal or dissipation within the existing urban context was carefully avoided. It was King Kong’s aim to stitch the urban fabric of the town centre back together, rather than introduce an additional disruptive element.