The modern provencal Venice

The similarities between Martigues and its Italian elder do not stop at the canals that run through both cities. While the Venetian Arsenal welcomes the world's architects as part of the city's art Biennale, the "Provencal Venice" has been an in-situ laboratory for contemporary architecture for over fifty years. Thanks to a proactive policy regarding the construction of public facilities and social housing, Martigues has become a remarkable city with regards to Mediterranean architecture. The quality and usage value of the constructions provided to the local population make them references in the matter. The town is living proof that it is possible to build a perennial city in Provence, at once traditional and industrial, wherein architecture and urban planning act as social glue. Martigues is a part of the Town of Art and History network, enabling the preservation and public enjoyment of its heritage. Between Marseille and Fos-sur-Mer stands as a cathartic architectural and urban response to metropolitan ills.



La Venise Provençale moderne Théâtre des Salins École de Ferrières Hôtel de Ville ZAC Paradis Saint Roch Immeuble Moulins de France Ensemble Collectif Notre Dame des Marins École maternelle Di Lorto Centre Funéraire Municipal
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Municipal Funeral Facility

A Mystical Site

Located on a promontory outside of the city core, the simple, sober architecture of this Funeral Facility discretely accompanies the peculiar function of such a site. But the building is anything but austere. With its nearly-immaculate white masonry, it creates a quasi-mystical link between the surrounding nature and the wide-open sky. The massing of this resolutely Mediterranean building's volumes recalls the work of Alvaro Siza, in an affirmed style that could be described as "critical regionalism" by dint of its strong relation to the context and the site. While built in 2007, the building has a timeless quality, thanks to the quality of the work put into every detail by the construction teams. Thus, in this building where nobody elects to enter, the perfection of the detailing, of the assembly of materials, and the suggested paths create a comforting sensation of security.
Architect :
Xavier Fabre & Vincent Speller – Baua
Year : 2007
Type : Public equipment
Address : Chemin de Château Perrin, 13500 Martigues
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