Lacaton & Vassal. Recent Work
This special issue of 2G magazine presnts the most recent projects of French architects Anne Lacaton & Jean Philippe Vassal, among the recently finalized projects such as the transformation of the Bois-le-Prêtre tower block in Paris - a built example of their investigation into how to re-use obsolete architecture -, two multi-family housing projects in Saint-Nazaire, and the School of Architecture in Nantes.
The volume also present projects on a city scale, such as an urban plan for Dublin, their proposal for the Porte de la Chapelle in Paris, and the La Vecquerie eco-area in Saint-Nazaire. Other projects that are representative of their recent trajectory are the scheme for Holcim Laboratories (Holderbank, Switzerland), the artwork storage facilities for the Fundação Serralves (Matosinhos, Portugal, and the building for the Fond Régional d’Art Contemporain Nord-Pas de Calais in Dunkerque, the completion of which is foreseen for 2013.
The introductory texts by Iñaki Ábalos and Karine Dana each provide a personal and novel look at the work of this French studio. To end, the text by Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal in the nexus section enables us to unequivocally grasp what the coceptual basis of their work as architects is.