Today’s pick of the litter is located in Bordeaux, France: the Arc en Ciel building by Bernard Buhler Architects stands out from its surroundings with a curvy, colorful form whose function is ambiguous. It could be a school, or a library, but rather than civic, its purpose is both residential and commercial. It forms a visual anchor to a heavily-trafficked pedestrian area, creating a continuity with its urban context.

For more images and details follow the jump.

As BLDG BLOG’s Geoff Manaugh noted in its feature Color Code, the odd graphic elements on the protruding windowboxes are somewhat superfluous, judging from the look of the unadorned, pigmented boxes below:

The colored striations on the exterior also extend to the interior passageways:

It’s also interesting to note the difference between the Arc en Ciel in rendering (below), and the finished product, which speaks to whimsy and joy without resorting to farce.

For more on Arc en Cielo visit the Architizer project page here and to learn more about Bernard Buhler Architects visit their profile here.

by Nicholas Solakian

posted in editor's pick

tagged bernard buhler, bordeaux, editor's pick, france, rainbow

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