The architect Ricardo Bofill was in Montpellier for a few days. A return for this internationally renowned architect on one of his emblematic projects: the Antigone district. The opportunity also to discuss the issue of new projects with Mayor Mickaël Delafosse.
In almost 40 years, the Antigone district has become a real part of the city’s identity and a showcase in the world. 36 hectares located today east of Montpellier, it is one of the biggest urban projects of this internationally renowned architect Ricardo Bofill. “When we started working together with Georges Frêche, we got along straight away. He wanted to create a new neighborhood and I followed him. It was the first time that I had been offered an entire neighborhood project! ”, remembers the Catalan architect. “Today, this neighborhood is functioning. It was designed as a real public space with a center dedicated to pedestrians and where different populations mix: there are social housing, non-social housing, but also other buildings such as schools or the swimming pool … and everything it created a real neighborhood, I’m very happy with it. ”
The Antigone district in Montpellier will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2023
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© MAXPPP
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A turning point in Ricardo Bofill’s career
30 years that he had not wandered in this sand decor inspired by ancient Greece. In the midst of these immense buildings, infinitely varied, the icon of postmodernism remembered this pharaonic project, a real turning point in his career. “There really was a before / after Montpellier. Antigone became my international showcase, I then worked in Japan, the United States, Chicago… all over the world! ”, he confides, while evoking the many criticisms at the time. “There is still a curious contradiction. It is a district admired all over the world! Everywhere, people talk to me about Antigone, in Japan, in the United States, in Chicago, everywhere! And at the same time, for years there has been a rejection in France where it has not served as a model for other neighborhoods. ”
“There really was a before / after Montpellier. Antigone became my international showcase, I then worked in Japan, the United States, Chicago… all over the world! ”,
Confidences of an eternal dissatisfied
After his stroll in the streets of Antigone, the internationally renowned architect revisited his work from the air using a helicopter, the opportunity to take a step back: “I’m still dissatisfied, but because it’s my job to be dissatisfied, otherwise I would always do the same. To change, I have to see flaws. So I see the flaws in my career, the mistakes I made in my city and therefore here too. We have done some interesting things, but there are some mistakes that the mayor will try to correct in the future. ”
“We have done some interesting things but there are some mistakes that the mayor will try to correct in the future.”
New projects for Montpellier signed Ricardo Bofill
This visit was not just a courtesy visit. The mayor of Montpellier accompanied the builder in his travels, evoking his projects for the future Montpellier. “It’s a great moment to see him here, walking in Antigone, watching Antigone, questioning Antigone!”, rejoices Mickaël Delafosse. “By inviting him, I wanted us to wonder what we could do for the city and which responds to the challenges of ecological transition, but also to the challenges of a smart city open to the world.”
The Catalan architect will return to work in Montpellier on new projects alongside Mickaël Delafosse
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© FTV
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Together, the two men discussed new ways to animate the city, to work on green spaces and roof installations. Projects too early to be revealed, but of which Ricardo Boffil has agreed to be the conductor: “With Mickaël Delafosse, we speak the same language, he has great ideas for Montpellier, ideas that appeal to me. Me, I will try to translate them as an architect and ensure that Montpellier becomes again a flagship city for the future.”
The long story between Ricardo Bofill and Montpellier is therefore not about to end. Seduced by the new mayor of Montpellier, the internationally renowned 81-year-old architect has just accepted a new challenge. “I have the impression that in my life, I have done things but that I have not finished everything I wanted to do. There are vocabulary that still have to be invented, there are ideas that still needs to be put in place, so I still have a few years of very intense work ahead of me. “ A visit which ended with a promise: “you will see me again. “
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