Flexible Collective Housing Design: Volumes Capables by A6A in Bordeaux

A New Paradigm for Collective Living

In Bordeaux's emerging Brazza district, Volumes Capables, designed by A6A, redefines the future of flexible collective housing design. The project responds to rising urban density, affordability constraints, and the need to prevent suburban sprawl by proposing a radical housing concept: scalable, adaptable spaces that evolve with family needs. This innovation challenges conventional real estate models by prioritizing user autonomy, affordability, and long-term adaptability.

Context: Urban Density and Affordability Challenges

The project is part of the Brazza district's master plan coordinated by architect Youssef Tohmé and initiated by the City of Bordeaux. To discourage families from relocating to distant suburbs, the city called for innovative housing strategies that provide spacious, affordable living options within the urban core. Selected in 2014 by Studio Brazza, A6A collaborated with developer Eden Promotion to deliver a housing model that offers generous living conditions at controlled costs, despite complex site constraints such as polluted soils and specialized foundation requirements.

Concept: The Idea of Capable Volumes

At the heart of the design lies a groundbreaking concept: Capable Volumes. Instead of prescribing fixed layouts, each apartment begins as a basic living unit of 18 m², fully compliant with building regulations and immediately occupiable. Beyond this lies a spatial reserve—unoccupied yet structurally ready for transformation. Residents can progressively expand and customize their home over time, constructing mezzanines, adding rooms, and adapting layouts as needs change. Small typologies can grow to 90 m², while the largest can reach up to 150 m², offering unparalleled flexibility in collective housing.

Design Features: From Minimal Shell to Personalized Habitat

Each dwelling is structured as two interconnected spaces separated by a removable partition. The base unit is a turnkey solution, while the adjacent volume provides the potential for future growth. High ceilings convert square meters into cubic meters, creating double-height spaces filled with natural light. This vertical generosity enables residents to incorporate mezzanines and redefine their living experience without leaving the city or purchasing additional property.

To support this evolution, the architects integrated technical infrastructure-in-waiting: a single vertical shaft for plumbing and drainage, pre-installed HVAC systems, and modular layouts. These systems allow residents to build bathrooms, kitchens, or new rooms without invasive construction, ensuring low cost and minimal disruption.

Social and Environmental Sustainability

Flexible collective housing design addresses two urgent urban issues: affordability and sustainability. By providing expandable homes, A6A reduces the need for relocation as family structures evolve, significantly limiting suburban expansion and its ecological impact. The construction method favors simplicity and clean processes, minimizing waste and facilitating community participation in phased interior works. Future residents are envisioned as co-creators, transforming collective housing from a top-down product into a collaborative habitat.

Community-Centric Living

The Capable Volumes concept fosters a unique social dynamic. Shared building resources, cooperative construction opportunities, and adaptable layouts encourage neighborly exchange and solidarity. This system not only produces housing but also envisions a community capable of mutual support, creating a living ecosystem that aligns with 21st-century urban ideals.

Toward a New Model of Urban Housing

Volumes Capables by A6A sets a benchmark for flexible collective housing design in Europe. It demonstrates how architectural intelligence can merge affordability, adaptability, and sustainability within the constraints of urban real estate. By empowering residents to shape their homes over time, this project proposes an alternative to static housing models—one that keeps families in the city, supports diverse lifestyles, and redefines collective living for future generations.

All the photographs are works of Agnès Clotis, Rory Gardiner