Prix W 2020

Description

A principal purpose of the Wilmotte Foundation is to support and accompany young architects and artists in the first stages of their careers. The Foundation organizes international competitions to identify and recognize young, exceptional talents, and to awaken up and coming generations of architects to the importance of marrying heritage and innovation.

For this new edition of the Prix W award, you are invited to rethink the château de la Tour d’Aigues around the theme «Wines and Gastronomy» and bring it into the 21st century. A market, a culinary school, workshops, a vinotheque, exhibition spaces, areas for tasting, catering spaces, a hotel, co-working spaces, a museum, greenhouses, educational gardens, vegetable gardens, etc. can all be part of your programming. The castle should also be able to host festivals and ephemeral events. You are free to combine the different components of the theme to imagine a unique program for the castle, while respecting its history (see appendixes of the program).
Note that the château currently hosts the tourist office and the earthenware museum in the south-east tower. This programmatic part should be maintained or displaced.

An open and friendly place
-Transform the château of La Tour d’Aigues into a place of meetings and exchanges.
-Reveal the convivial and festive dimension of gastronomy.

A space of transmission (know-how, art of living)
-To unveil the tangible and intangible heritage of the place, to promote the transmission of the gastronomic heritage (education of eating-well, culinary arts & epicureanism) and architectural heritage.

A «responsible» and innovative place
-Turning to the future thanks to the use of new technologies, this revitalized place will accompany the emergence of new uses and new trends in taste, aesthetics and the culture of flavors.
-Tomorrow’s diet is a healthy and quality diet, committed and ethical, that takes into account its environmental impact.
-As a responsible development initiative for the city and its region, your project can include partnerships with companies, artisans and local producers...

The final constructed area must be at least 5,000 sq.m and can not exceed 7,500 sq.m
-Your intervention will mainly take place inside perimeter 1 (see diagram 1 below). Nevertheless, your project can be extended to the near environment including the parking in front (perimeter 2).
-The landscaped areas and access to the site should also be integrated into your reflection.
-Your architectural graft can be of any kind and scale. However, all the original architectural elements should be highlighted.

Instagram : @prixw