Finalist teams chosen for Bordeaux centre

A jury headed by Bordeaux’s mayor has chosen the finalists who are competing to design the city’s planned wine museum.

The 18 judges, led by mayor Alain Juppé, selected five finalist teams out of 113 candidates. They are competing for the chance to design Bordeaux’s wine museum and cultural centre in a contract worth an estimated €46 million.

An added facet of each team is that they include scenographers as well as architects. Sylvie Cazes, president of Domaines Jean-Michel Cazes and Bordeaux city counselor, explained: “Future visitors must find it (the centre) an interesting and enjoyable place, one which they will want to come back to: the interior will make all the difference, so we are looking for innovative designs.”

Bordeaux based design agency, Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo, which specialises in museum design, is among the five finalists.

The architects’ models will be judged in the spring. The winning design will be announced in June and the finished structure should be open by 2014.

Rupert Millar, 23.12.2010