Launch of the Architecture de Collection office in Marseille!

Located on rue Sainte, just a stone’s throw from Marseille’s Old Port, its spectacular Ombrière, designed by Norman Foster, and the famous buildings constructed by architect Fernand Pouillon during the Reconstruction period, this new office is run by Noël Castinel, Architecture de Collection’s partner in Provence and the Côte d’Azur since 2013. It gives our agency a pleasant location in the heart of the Cité Phocéenne, dedicated to promoting outstanding architecture in the south of France, by welcoming and supporting our clients and partners.

After a sunny stroll along the Corniche Kennedy and its many remarkable villas and residences from various eras, our team met photographer Philippe Conti at the Cité Radieuse for a photo shoot for BIG magazine, a veritable ‘insider’s guide’ to the region. This was followed by a colourful portrait session with Aurélien Vernant, the agency’s director, and Noël Castinel, head of the South office, in front of the frank green wall of the 3^ème rue de l’Unité d’Habitation.

The team then enjoyed the sunny terrace of the Ventre de l’architecte, the gourmet bar-restaurant of the Cité Radieuse hotel, in the company of Katia Imbernon, director of the bookshop and Editions Imbernon and partner of the agency. After a gourmet dinner served by the hotel’s owners, Dominique and Alban Gérardin, everyone went back to their rooms.

Facing west towards the sea, each room has a magnificent glass roof with wooden frames, emblematic of the Unité d’habitation, opening onto a terrace with a view over the harbour of Marseille. The rooms have been tastefully decorated in a vintage style, in keeping with the spirit of the place, and have retained their original wood panelling, storage units and parquet flooring.

The superb ‘museum room’, restored to the highest standards, has retained all the features of a type A studio, including the original kitchen designed by Charlotte Perriand.

The following morning, the team headed to the Maison Gaston Castel, a superb example of art deco architecture built between 1924 and 1930 by Marseille architect Gaston Castel, for a press breakfast organised by Les Toquée de la Com, the press relations agency that is supporting Architecture de Collection’s local communications strategy throughout the process of opening the new office.

Aurélien Vernant and Noël Castinel presented the agency’s ambitions for Provence and the Côte d’Azur, or how to reveal, promote, preserve and pass on the region’s remarkable architecture, in the confidential and luxurious setting of the sumptuous reception room with its refined décor, in the presence of members of the local press and partners. This discussion was followed by a tour of the villa and an account of its restoration by the owner, Dominique Gérardin.

The team then rounded off their stay in style with a seaside lunch in the Calanque de Sormiou, one of Marseille’s most beautiful creeks!

Emilie Bloch
chargée de recherche & de communication

The agency’s partners :