Buzz
Constructed in 2006, the Miroir d'Eau holds the distinction of being the largest reflecting pool globally. Credit: Geoffrey Gilson Photography/Moment Open/Getty ImagesWhile Bordeaux, France, is renowned for its exquisite wines, it now captivates visitors of all ages with a modern marvel. Established in 2006, the Water Mirror, or Miroir d'Eau, lies opposite the historic Place de la Bourse, an 18th-century square commissioned by King Louis XV, overlooking the Garonne River.
The last king before the French Revolution would likely be delighted to know that the Water Mirror, frequently photographed with Place de la Bourse in the backdrop, is now Bordeaux's most iconic landmark, according to Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions. It is also recognized as a contemporary UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Intriguing, but what is a water mirror? Similar to a reflecting pool, it mirrors nearby structures. However, unlike the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which ranges from 18 to 30 inches deep, a water mirror is much shallower. Bordeaux's version is only 2 centimeters deep, allowing visitors to walk through it. On any day, you'll see locals and tourists of all ages enjoying the space, from toddlers playing to teens filming dance videos.
At its inception, the Bordeaux Water Mirror was the world's largest reflecting pool, spanning 3,450 square meters, as confirmed by Nicolas Corne, press relations officer at Bordeaux City Hall, via email.
A French girl dances as the sun sets over Bordeaux's Water Mirror on June 24, 2018. David Silverman/Getty ImagesThough the site is now a picturesque landmark, it wasn't always so. Decades ago, the area was filled with parking lots and industrial activity, blocking access to the Garonne River. Stéphane Llorca, managing director of JML Water Feature Design, the firm behind the project, explains that Bordeaux, under Mayor Alain Juppé and the Communauté Urbaine des Bordeaux (CUB), launched a transformative plan to reconnect the city with the river.
"When former mayor Alain Juppé arrived in Bordeaux in 1995, he initiated numerous urban renewal projects to revitalize the city and reclaim its prominence," says Corne. "One of his key goals was to reconnect the people of Bordeaux with the Garonne River."
In 1999, the CUB organized a competition involving five architectural teams, with JML emerging as the winner. The water mirror was a key element of the waterfront transformation led by landscape architect Michel Corajoud and architect Pierre Gangnet. Llorca notes that the idea was inspired by Venice, Italy, particularly the acqua alta (high water) and the partial flooding of Piazza San Marco. However, unlike Venice's unpredictable flooding, the water levels in Bordeaux are carefully controlled.
"The water depth was carefully calibrated to encourage public interaction while maintaining a manageable water volume," explains Llorca. The water undergoes continuous filtration and chemical treatment as it cycles through three distinct phases, akin to a large closed-circuit swimming pool. The Bordeaux Water Mirror, paved with granite, required two years to complete.
While the water mirror is stunning above ground, its true marvel lies beneath the surface. The shallow pool is encircled by a drain and supported by an underground reservoir holding 800 cubic meters of water. A network of pumps facilitates the mirror's continuous cycles: 15 minutes of shallow water, followed by five minutes of paused water flow and a damp surface, and then five minutes of mist generated by hundreds of specialized nozzles.
This water feature operates in three distinct phases, with the current one highlighting the mist mode.
Tony Hisgett/Flickr, licensed under CC by 2.0Llorca explains, 'Beneath the mirror lies a fully equipped technical room. This space, once an old port warehouse, has been renovated to house a massive reservoir along with all necessary mechanical and electrical systems.'
Annually, the water mirror is emptied, and its water is repurposed for cleaning the streets. Despite Bordeaux's relatively warm winters, with average lows just above freezing, the mirror is temporarily shut down for several weeks to prevent freezing. During major events, such as the Bordeaux Fête le Fleuve, the water flow can be halted, giving the illusion of an empty surface. Corne mentions that all operations are managed via computer systems.
The Bordeaux mirror pioneered this concept and has since influenced similar installations in various global cities.
Llorca remarks, 'The acclaim of the Bordeaux water mirror has sparked a new wave in public design, establishing it as a benchmark.'
While photographs often depict the Bordeaux Water Mirror as part of the Place de la Bourse courtyard, it is actually situated across the street by the river, nestled between Quai de la Douane and Quai Louis XVIII.
