Honorable Mention: International Architecture Awards 2024
Head Office BA2E and Business Incubator | La Teste-de-Buch, France | 2022

Architects: Guiraud Manenc Agence d’Architecture
Lead Architects: Antoine Guiraud and Etienne Manenc
Client: Communauté d'Agglomération du Bassin d'Arcachon Sud
Contractor: SAS Vivalto
Photographers: Vincent Monthiers

Affirming its presence in the city entrance and noticeable from the national road, this architecture is developed with the aim of hosting two entities whose distinction is readable from the outside without affecting the unity and coherence of the building. As a matter of fact, like an architectural metaphor, the building symbolizes the hosted activities: the BA2e headquarter base, which is connected to the economical territory, supports the project leaders working the upper floors to continue their career as brilliant actors of the local economic development.

Vibrating with light, the building asserts itself as an urban signal in the activity zone. During the day the reflective coating is tinged with the colors of the sky and changes according to the weather. This shimmering facade that reminds of waves or a flight of birds, evokes the natural landscape of the Bassin d'Arcachon and La Teste-de-Buch. During the night, the business center is adorned with bright flashes, while the AB2e headquarter is marked by a large band of light: a striking architecture from the point of view of the vehicles driving on the national road.