BJARKE INGELS GROUP (BIG), THE SAIL
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has signed the new Rouen Congress Center in Normandy which is set to open its doors by the end of 2032. Located by the Seine riverfront, Rouen’s new congress center, nicknamed The Sail, is envisioned as a public meeting place that connects the city to the water. The center will house two auditoriums, exhibition halls, a restaurant, multipurpose meeting rooms and back-of-house spaces, contributing to the city’s cultural and economic development.
The timber structure and facades draw on Rouen’s tradition of half-timbered houses, while the roofline recalls the sails of its maritime history. From the city side, the PV-covered roof hovers above a new public forecourt that extends the urban fabric to the river.
The forecourt combines open plazas paved in local stone with pockets of planting and trees, creating shaded gathering areas and green buffers around the building. Rainwater collected from the roof irrigates the planting, while paths connect the site with its surroundings and guide visitors to the entrances.
Inside, a spacious foyer serves as the building’s central square, filled with natural light. A grand staircase connects the foyer to the main auditorium, while overlapping levels create visual connections between the different program areas.
The Sail is designed to achieve Passivhaus certification for highly energy-efficient buildings. "Built with mass-timber construction – said BIG partner Jakob Sand – daylight-optimised interiors and an energy-producing roof, it is both a low-impact infrastructure and a cultural hub, offering an inclusive space for Rouen and its visitors."
Client : Métropole Rouen Normandie ; architect : Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Jacob Sand ; Project Team : Anastasiia Golub, Hyun Woo Cho, Kasia Wieprow, Lawrance Olivier Mahadoo, Marie Lançon, MatthewMonika Dauksaite; collaborators: BLP & associés, Egis, Ducks Scéno, Elioth, Bloom Landscape, Marshall Day Acoustics, 8’18 lumière, BMF, Nicolas Mayeur
