Cité du Vin Opens in Bordeaux, Designed by XTU Architects

The Cité du Vin, a 13,000-square-meter cultural center dedicated to wine, opened in Bordeaux with President Hollande inaugurating the venue. Designed by XTU Architects (Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmaziéres) with interiors by Casson Mann Limited, the building's sinuous form evokes a decanter and the sensuality of wine, featuring rounded shapes and a glass-and-aluminum cladding that interacts with light. The structure includes spaces for presentations, tastings, a concept store, and temporary exhibitions. The architects, known for the French Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 and the Jeongok Prehistory Museum in Korea, emphasize organic forms, technological appeal, and environmental sustainability as part of a "Third Industrial Revolution." The Cité has two entrances—one facing the river, the other the city—and a tower offering panoramic views. Interiors are organized around a central staircase, designed as a fluid, explorable cultural landscape.