Description
Inspired modernity in Marseille
This apartment on the Vieux-Port, on the front line of one of the legendary buildings designed by architect Fernand Pouillon between 1947 and 1955, combines panoramic views, Mediterranean modernity and contemporary comfort.
This 141 sqm Loi Carrez flat opens onto a stunning panoramic view of Marseille’s Vieux-Port and the Bonne Mère.
It features a sunny 60 sqm living area with lounge and dining room, whose wide windows open onto a pleasant 33 sqm covered terrace, and a separate kitchen with a 9 sqm loggia lit by glass pavers.
The sleeping area comprises 3 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, a shower room and a separate toilet. The master bedroom opens onto the living area thanks to an original sliding partition and benefits from its own terrace. A 2nd bathroom could be added.
A cellar completes the property.
The flat can be offered furnished and equipped.
It has been completely renovated by interior architects Claudia-Liza Richerd Duloisy and Paul Moreau (Studio & Studio). They have adopted a minimalist, sober approach that enhances the original architecture. The interior volume is punctuated by load-bearing pillars of solid Gard stone, which are left exposed to guide the layout of the spaces and create a soft, warm atmosphere. The arched lintel windows and terracotta coffered ceilings give the flat a distinctly Mediterranean feel. The original parquet flooring has been retained in the living room.
The flat benefits from the dynamic environment of the Vieux Port, within easy reach of all amenities (shops, services) and transport links (Metro M1, T2 and T3 trams and buses). It is just a few minutes’ walk from the historic Panier district and the MUCEM. Saint Charles station is less than 15 minutes away by metro.
Reconstruction of the Vieux-Port of Marseille
The buildings of the Vieux-Port form a remarkable architectural ensemble that is part of Marseille’s identity.
The project, led by Fernand Pouillon, was part of a much wider programme to rebuild Marseille’s Old Port after the Second World War. The area, which had been heavily demolished, was being modernised. Fernand Pouillon was commissioned to design a series of flat blocks in collaboration with André Devin, under the supervision of Auguste Perret, between 1949 and 1955.
The architecture features pure, long forms, enhanced by recessed terraces that give the illusion of bow-windows. Supported by arcades on the ground floor, the overall structure is lightened, topped by a recessed top floor crowning the building.
Pouillon used traditional forms derived from his ‘Beaux-Arts’ training, such as arcades, the use of blonde ashlar (from the region) and the crown on the top floor; he also proposed a modern structure and techniques, characteristic of the post-war large-scale apartment block.
The “42 au 66 Quai du Port” building was awarded the “Patrimoine XXe siècle” label in 2001 and has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1993.
Fernand Pouillon
The architect and town planner Fernand Pouillon (1912-1986) was one of the great builders of the reconstruction years that followed the Second World War in France.
He built 50,000 homes, facilities and public buildings in Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, the Paris region (residence du parc de Meudon-la-Forêt, 1957, Point du Jour housing complex in Boulogne-Billancourt, 1959-1963), Algeria and Iran.
Its designs are characterised by harmonious integration into the site, rigorous proportions, noble materials and the collaboration of sculptors, ceramists and landscape architects.
In an approach that incorporates an understanding of the culture and customs of the local inhabitants, he favours the use of sustainable materials, combining stone, wood and ceramics with concrete, metal and glass, and contrasting modern lines with vernacular inspirations.
Photos: © Florence Vesval