STATUS
IN DESIGN
CLIENT
Région Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée
TYPOLOGY
Infrastructure
SIZE M2/FT2
12,000 / 129,167
SHARE
As part of Toulouse’s Grand Matabiau Quais d’Oc masterplan, the Marengo Multimodal Transport Hub will revitalise the urban area, facilitate seamless travel, and triple the number of daily passengers travelling to and from the city. Constructed mainly in wood, the 12,000 m2 hub connects to the Gare Matabiau central train station in the west and dovetails the city’s pedestrian and bicycle flows towards the east, acting as a link between the city center, the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi and the Périole neighbourhood.
Referencing the city’s roofscape and traditional use of the “foraine” brick, the building is characterised by a rose-colored, crystalline roof. From the main entrance canopy in the south, the hub’s structure gradually rises in a sloping movement towards the north, reaching 32 metres in height towards the railway tracks. The hub is set to attain Silver Occitanie Sustainable Buildings certification, as well as the Biodiversity Effinature, and HQE Infrastructure.
"The new Transport hub's folded roof, rising from the Marengo parvis, defines the main hall with lush greenery and ample daylight, welcoming visitors and leading them to metro and train tracks below. The building's elegant silhouette, growing northward in height, curves along rue de Périole. Ground and lower floors will offer areas for rest and retail and the Maison du Climat event space, while upper floors accommodate regional offices. Pursuing low carbon solutions in the design, we employed mass timber, low carbon concrete, and natural ventilation throughout, with photovoltaics on the roof. This simple yet multifunctional design transforms the roof into Toulouse's new landmark."
The site offers diverse functions and is located alongside the railway, facing the historic Gare Matabiau.
The maximum envelope is divided in two, each with their respective height limit. The southern part facing the main entrance has a limit of 15 meters, while the northern part facing the tracks has a limit of 35 meters.
The maximum envelope is formed with a gentle slope connecting the lowest and highest points.
The building's height is reduced to fit the required program and cater to the human scale towards the main entrance.
The main entrance is activated with a covered canopy, creating a strong pedestrian link from the bridge and the bus station.
The east façade curves towards the Périole neighborhood to guide the flows of pedestrians and cyclists.
The folded roof references Toulouse's characteristic roofscape.
The ground floor is activated with cafés, restaurants, retail spaces, as well as the Maison du Climat event space. The office space for the Occitanie Region is situated from floors 1-6. Bike parking is accessible via the eastern corner.
As the structure grows in height, each level gradually recedes, creating a triangular shape. This enables visual connections across floors and pulls daylight down to the hub’s lowest levels, accommodating comfortable and easy navigation for travellers throughout the day.
Passing the bus station and entering through the main entrance, travellers are led below ground to Gare Matabiau, railway, metro lines, and the transport hub’s hangout areas. The ground floor and two sub-levels will feature flexible and informal public spaces open to all, including areas for rest as well as commercial and cultural activities. Here, Maison du Climat, an initiative to further the public’s knowledge on environmental topics, will manage an event space for exhibitions, conferences, and workshops.
Floors one through six will function as an office space for the 350 employees of the Occitanie Region. The roof, composed of photovoltaics, is punctured by skylights, allowing in natural light. Local plants and trees are planted in the building and bike station to echo the vegetation of the Haute-Garonne region.
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Bjarke Ingels Jakob Sand Claudia Bertolotti Hyojin Lee Martyna Kloda Giulia Frittoli Mathieu Michel Cardinal Gustavo Alejandro Lopez Rodriguez Johannes Alexander Hackl Yanis Amasri Sierra Will Chuanrui Yu Charlie Laran Sasha Spasic Oliwia Jagla Dervan Ahmed Marco Sartoretto Ebba Kristina Andersson
COLLABORATORS
A+Architecture
A+R Paysages
ALTO
CLDesign
Cronos Conseil
dUCKS scéno
Systematica
Franck Boutté
LASA
les éclaireurs
l'Echo
schlaich bergermann partner - sbp
Span
MBacity
FER-PLAY
OGI
