From MuCem to the Old Port

Between Marseille's new architectural symbol and the Vieux-Port, follow us on a trip through 2,600 years of the city's history. Beyond the MuCEM, this walk presents a compendium of the second half of 20th-century architecture, which was marked by a period of post-war reconstruction.



parcours MuCEM / vieux port Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée Rowing Club Opération de la Tourette L'immeuble façade du Vieux-Port La maison Diamantée Extension de l'Hotel de Ville de Marseille La résidence du Vieux-Port Réaménagement du vieux-Port
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Réf. :
SBRIGLIO J., Guides d’Architecture, Marseille, 1945-1993, Editions Parenthèses, Marseille, 1993
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The renovation and semi-pedestrianization of the Old Port 

A sunbathed public square and a shaded meeting place - the Marseille paradox in a nutshell

Europe’s biggest public square is located in Marseille! Well, that would be empirically true if it wasn’t for the inlet of the Mediterranean at its core. Starting in 2011, the renovation of Marseille's historical core was seen as an occasion to restore a sense of place to the Phocaean city, as well as a generous public square. It lays out a perfect synthesis of what makes Marseille so unique: fishermen, seagulls, the legendary Pernod club, and a breathtaking view of Notre-Dame de la Garde. This life-size Epinal print is framed by Marseille's natural elements: the aquatic, the mineral, and the solar – the latter of which bathes the entire tableau without interruptions. On the Quai des Belges, however, visitors can find a bit of shade under Sir Norman Foster's 1,000 square-meter shade house, which symbolises Marseille's embrace of renewal and contrasts. This six-metre high metallic structure, inspired by Anish Kapoor's reflective sculptures, offers a rare experience: the reflection of the Vieux-Port's waves reflecting in the polished stainless mirrored ceiling. The opposite is also true in that the sculpture is also reflected in the harbour's waters.

The project was awarded the 2013 urban development prize, in the Metropolitan Territories category.
Architect :
Michel Desvignes - Foster+Partners - Tangram architectes
Year :2013
Type : public space
Address :
Vieux Port - 13002 marseille
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