by LThe site symbolizes the development of reuse in the construction sector within the metropolis. In Mérignac, Fabrique de Bordeaux Métropole (La Fab), which develops the area with affordable housing and business premises, has rehabilitated the former Bordelaise de Beding building to make it a reuse base. This 1,500 square meter storage, public reception and office space…
LThe site symbolizes the development of reuse in the construction sector within the metropolis. In Mérignac, Fabrique de Bordeaux Métropole (La Fab), which develops the area with affordable housing and business premises, has rehabilitated the former Bordelaise de Beding building to make it a reuse base. This 1,500 square meter storage, public reception and office space allows the materials of demolition sites to be stored for repair and resale as part of new real estate projects in the avenue de la Somme, Bordeaux metropolis. It has just opened its doors to the public.
The field of reuse in construction is just beginning in France. “However, we have a lot of materials available from construction sites or individuals, which we can reuse. We can make something beautiful out of them instead of throwing them away,” assures Thibaut Chadeville, co-founder of Flip Association and Re-Employment Office. gives, who now has a 200 square meter workshop in the premises of this new base.Through his association, carpenters collect wood material for making furniture.
Solibate, a subsidiary of Compagnans Builders, was also selected to occupy the space. The association, which specializes in deconstruction and reuse, employs ten people on site along the integration pathway. It offers sales of new materials mainly to low-income groups but also sells second-hand materials to individuals and businesses.
The received material is stored in a space of 500 square meters.
Laurent Thilet/SO
In this “material library”, Solibet manages the stock of La Fab. Recovered and stored deposits are mainly interior materials, such as furniture, lighting, doors, partitions, electrical equipment or sanitary facilities. Reuse of external connections is still little developed due to renovation costs, wear and tear of materials and regulations.
“Lead by Example”
The main objective of the first reuse base in the metropolis is to prove that it is possible to build housing or business offices without additional costs while guaranteeing a certain quality with recycled materials. “We make housing affordable so it doesn’t have to be poorly built,” says Jerome Goes, general director of La Fab. “As we impose at least 5% of recycled materials in the construction costs of new housing, we want to set an example with our own building,” he continues.
“Just because we make housing affordable doesn’t mean it’s going to be poorly built.”
For example, showers and toilets were installed from the deconstruction site of the old Jean-Bédét swimming pool in Marignac. The upstairs kitchen comes from a man’s house in the Marignac region. The false ceiling, light fixtures, air vents, wooden benches, reception hall decorations, are all from recycled materials. Yet everything seems new. In total, 22.5% of the rehabilitation work budget was devoted to reusing materials, which made it possible to avoid the equivalent of 36 tons of CO.2 Extracts and recovers 53 tonnes of waste.
