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The idea for the International City of Gastronomy and Wine emerged after UNESCO inscribed the “Gastronomic Meal of the French” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010. Dijon, a city renowned for its vineyards, cuisine, and history, was chosen to embody this recognition. The concept was shaped around the rehabilitation of the former Hôtel-Dieu, a site layered with memory and heritage. From the traces of its chapel to the geometry of the city, the project sought to weave past and future, blending cultural, educational, and gastronomic programs into a living district where tradition and modernity engage in dialogue.
The International City of Gastronomy and Wine create a dialogue with its urban and natural surroundings by linking Dijon’s historic core, the Ouche river, and the emerging eco-district. At its heart stands the corten-clad “Light Cannon,” the new urban landmark that aligns the entrance axis with the city and signals the Cité from afar. The project combines restored heritage buildings with contemporary structures, weaving porosity into the design through pedestrian passages, open courtyards, and green roofs. This permeability fosters encounters between past and present, public and private, while the landscaping enhances biodiversity. Together, these elements revitalize the neighborhood and root it in memory yet open it to the future.
The choice of corten steel for the envelope of the “Light Cannon,” the iconic symbol of the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin, was driven by its ability to embody both permanence and transformation. In Dijon, stone and metal have long shaped the city’s identity; corten continues this lineage while projecting it into the future. Its evolving patina resonates with Burgundy’s tiled roofs and the passage of time, offering a façade that changes yet endures. Durable and low maintenance, the material establishes a strong urban identity and a lasting landmark, anchoring the Cité as a new gateway where tradition and modernity meet.
The project integrates reuse of historic buildings, green roofs, and maximized green spaces, favoring biodiversity with over 100 plant species and local fauna protection. Water management is ensured via rainwater retention basins and permeable surfaces. Materials include Corten steel recalling Burgundy roofs, natural stone, and glass for natural light. The site received NF Habitat HQE certification for housing, BREEAM “Very Good” for new professional buildings, and “Good” for restorations. 80% of contractors were local, and a circular economy approach was implemented on-site. The project won the SIATI Trophy (Urban Planning), Architecture Masterprize (Mixed Use Architecture), and BLT Awards (Cultural Building).
The International City of Gastronomy and Wine in Dijon is an ambitious urban renewal project located at the gateway to Burgundy’s renowned wine route, inaugurated in 2022 on the historic site of the former Hôtel-Dieu. Covering more than 70,000 sqm, it combines the rehabilitation of listed heritage buildings with innovative contemporary architecture. Its strength lies in its programmatic richness: permanent and temporary exhibition spaces devoted to gastronomy, the prestigious Ferrandi hospitality school, a high-end hotel with 125 rooms, nine cinema halls including a multiplex, a culinary and wine village with restaurants and shops, spaces for offices and coworking, and a sustainable neighborhood offering diverse housing. Beyond this diversity, its defining character is the dialogue between material and memory, the Corten steel “light cannon” aligns the entrance axis with the city. Heritage chapels and courtyards converse with new public spaces, a 4-hectare vegetal and mineral park, and the restored Ouche riverbanks. Historic elements are reintegrated into the project, enriching the collective narrative. The Cité has become a place of pride and identification for the community. Residents and visitors can recognize themselves in what has been inherited, transformed, and shared. It is not only a landmark for Dijon, but a collective story of creation and transmission, celebrating the French art of living and the universal pleasure of gathering around food and wine.
Bechu & Associés, a Parisian architecture agency with a family heritage, has been shaping spaces for nearly a century where heritage and modernity engage in dialogue. Heritage in the service of innovation, we reinvent the city by enhancing what already exists, respecting history while imagining visionary solutions. Deeply committed to sustainable development, we integrate nature and biomimicry at the heart of our projects, to build responsible and harmonious places. Towards an innovative and sustainable future, our team strives to create architectures that connect past and future, driven by a demand for quality and respect for the environment. From Paris to the international stage, Bechu & Associés is dedicated to transmitting, inspiring, and building a more sustainable world, where each project becomes an encounter between heritage and innovation.
