As part of our summer series, Architecture de Collection heads south to explore, each week, one of the seaside resorts created under the Mission Racine. Established in 1963, this French government initiative sought to transform the coastline of the Languedoc-Roussillon region into a major Mediterranean destination. Entire new towns emerged from this ambitious programme, shaped by leading architects including Jean Balladur and Georges Candilis.
© Daniel Leclercq
The masterplan for Port-Gruissan was entrusted to Raymond Gleize, appointed chief architect of the development in 1964. Alongside Édouard Hartané, he designed the main buildings, residential complexes and marina. The development occupies a fragmented 1,500-hectare site between the surrounding hills, the historic fishing and sailing village, which has surrounded a fortress since the 11th century, of which only the Barberousse Tower remains, and the Chalets beach. The architects’ original proposal called for the construction of large star-shaped pyramidal structures, but these were rejected by the Mission Racine in favour of a design more sensitive to the existing landscape.
Gruissan Tourist Development (Aude), perspective drawing of the initial architectural concept by Raymond Gleize and Édouard Hartané, February 1964. SIAF/CAPA – Archives d’architecture contemporaine, Raymond Gleize Collection, 139 IFA 9. © Franck Delorme/CAPA
Around the marina, the design guidelines required residential buildings with varied volumes and heights, alternating between four and five storeys in order to prevent visual uniformity. Yet a certain harmony emerges through the treatment of the roofs, designed as barrel vaults. These provide a subtle reinterpretation of the region’s traditional architecture, known for its curved terracotta tile roofs. More than a purely aesthetic choice, this solution enabled the architects to reduce the impact of solar radiation on the interiors.
© DR
Raymond Gleize
Raymond Gleize (1913-1992) trained in the studio of Georges Labro at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Awarded the Grand Prix de Rome in 1944, he was appointed chief architect of civil and national buildings. In this capacity, he carried out restoration works for the École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, as well as for the Tourism Commission and the Ministry of Equipment. From 1944 to 1969, he was also responsible for the construction of major dams and hydroelectric plants in Corrèze, Savoie, Jura and Isère. He extended his practice to the design of educational buildings, working as a consulting architect for the Construction sector from 1950 to 1975.
© DR
Mission Racine : a state-led vision for the Mediterranean coast
On 18 June 1963, the French government established the Mission Racine, an interministerial agency responsible for planning and developing the coastline of the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Its objective was to unlock the area’s considerable tourism potential by transforming its vast stretches of sandy shoreline into a network of modern seaside resorts.
Operating until 1983, the Mission was directed by senior civil servant Jean Racine and placed under the direct authority of the Prime Minister. Over two decades, teams of planners, engineers and architects created a series of purpose-built coastal towns connected by an extensive road network integrated into the regional and national infrastructure. Designed by some of the leading figures of post-war French architecture, including Jean Balladur and Georges Candilis, each resort was conceived with its own distinct architectural identity, offering a unique interpretation of modern Mediterranean urbanism.
Languedoc-Roussillon : tourist development of the coastline, promotional brochure published by the Délégation à l’aménagement du territoire et à l’action régionale, Publicité Vox, 1967. SIAF/CAPA – Archives d’architecture contemporaine, Georges Candilis Collection, 236 IFA 414/1 © Franck Delorme/CAPA
Capucine Rigoigne
