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CITE DE L’OCEAN ET DU SURF

Biarritz, France. 2011

Description +

PROGRAM: exhibition area, auditorium, restaurant, cafeteria and offices

CLIENT: City of Biarritz / Adim Sud Ouest

SIZE: 40,903 sq ft

STATUS: Complete

The Cité de l’Océan et du Surf museum intends to raise awareness of oceanic issues and explore educational and scientific aspects of the surf and sea and their role upon our leisure, science, and ecology. The project, designed in collaboration with Solange Fabião, is comprised of a museum building, exhibition areas, and a plaza, within a larger master plan. The building form derives from the spatial concept “under the sky”/“under the sea”. A concave “under the sky” shape creates a central gathering plaza, open to sky and sea, with the horizon in the distance. The convex structural ceiling forms the “under the sea” exhibition spaces. This concept generates a unique profile and form for the building, and through its insertion and efficient site utilization, the project integrates seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.

Ecological Innovation +

Green-space gardens featuring a mix of field and local vegetation

Credits +

  • architect

    - Steven Holl Architects

    Solange Fabião, Steven Holl (design architect)

    Rodolfo Dias (project architect)

    Chris McVoy (project advisor)

    Filipe Taboada (assistant project architect)

    Francesco Bartolozzi, Christopher Brokaw, Cosimo Caggiula, Rychiee Espinosa, Florence Guiraud, Richard Liu, Maki Matsubayashi, Johanna Muszbek, Ernest Ng, Alessandro Orsini, Nelson Wilmotte, Ebbie Wisecarver, Lan Wu, Christina Yessios (project team)

    - Rüssli Architekten

    Justin Rüssli, Mimi Kueh, Stephan Bieri, Björn Zepnik (project team DD/CD)

  • associate architects

    - Agence d'Architecture X.Leibar JM Seigneurin

  • structural consultant

    - Betec & Vinci Construction Marseille

  • acoustical consultant

    - AVEL Acoustique

  • lighting consultant

    - L'Observatoire International

  • HVAC consultant

    - Elithis

  • general contractor

    - Faura Silva, GTM Sud-Ouest Batiment

  • exhibition engineer

    - CESMA

  • structural engineer

    - Jacobs Serete

  • exhibition contractor

    - Geroari

  • exhibition designer

    - dUCKS Scéno

Quotes +


  • Frederico Nicolao, Abitare, September 2011 "The focus of our attention should be on Holl’s wonderful architecture, which is as subtle inside, an imaginative recreation of what goes on 'under the sea,' as it is outside, where the building encounters 'under the sky' what is universally acknowledged to be one of the finest stretches of coastline in the world. This interrelatedness of interior and exterior gives the building an impressive directness of statement that visitors can see as soon as they enter the museum, cross the plaza, linger under the portico or walk off across the roof. Wherever they are in this complex they participate in the dialogue between sea and landscape. ... It is striking that Holl, who has already given us a number of site-sensitive buildings, listened so humbly to what the land and seascapes had to say, confirming the impression that his architecture also comes from a profound exploration of context."

News +


  • 2012 11/01 Cite De L’Ocean Et Du Surf
  • 2012 12/01 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf
  • 2011 09/01 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf – Biarritz, France
  • 2011 09/01 Proposals Which Move Towards Space
  • 2011 09/01 Steven Holl: Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf
  • 2011 10/01 Ocean Boulevard
  • 2011 09/03 Surf’s Up in Biarritz
  • 2011 05/01 Boarderline
  • 2011 06/26 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf opens in Biarritz, France
  • 2011 09/22 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf wins 2011 LEAF Award
  • 2011 12/08 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf Wins Award in 2011 Annual Design Review
  • 2012 03/07 Cite de l’Ocean et du Surf voted winner in ArchDaily’s Building of the Year Awards

Awards +


  • 2011 2011 EMIRATES GLASS LEAF AWARD
  • 2011 ANNUAL DESIGN REVIEW
  • 2012 AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE AWARD
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