Productive Articulations
Competition Team
Meriem Chabani (FR), architect urbanist
Etienne Chobaux (FR), architect
John Edom (GB), anthropologist
Europan 14 Guebwiller (FR)
winner
Team Point of View
The project cultivates a vision for an economic and urban development that draws upon its historical identity as a textile industry stronghold and the assets it had left behind. Multiple programs address a variety of publics: a training centre gives access to employment on site, shared greenhouses cultivate both pedagogic plants and allow for research into plant fibre for textiles. A pavilion displays innovation in textiles in the public square. A pavilion for textile recycling provides both raw material for the production of recycled textile products and an interface with the public. Transport connections are integrated through the introduction of the tramway, pedestrian and cycle routes are created and existing buildings are subverted to become entry points to the site. The scale and density of the project provides the qualities of a new urban centre for Guebwiller, where the productive city is also a desirable city.
Jury Point of View
A complete, successful project. The readable and well-managed proposal that questions how the site will be able in the future to accommodate an economy or types of activity that we do not now know.
