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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la maison Diamantée

The extension of the Hôtel de Ville

The invisible City Hall

The famous City Hall, built in 1673 by Gaspard Puget (Pierre’s brother) to house the city’s high magistrates, was bursting at the seams until 2006, when it was augmented by an invisible extension. City Hall’s new institutional facilities, including the large deliberation room and asymmetrical exhibition space, are tucked away under the Place Bargemon, wherein the old Hôtel Dieu and the Panier neighbourhood are linked by staircases to the Old Port. An entrance to the new extension takes advantage of the Place’s right-hand slope, revealing its natural and constructed topography. The subterranean nature of the construction transfers the monumentality usually associated with seats of power to the new public square hence created. The site of Place Bargemon had been abandoned since the end of the Second World War and was used a parking lot. It now proudly displays the city’s 2,600-year history with the newly-rapatriated busts of Pytheas and Euthymenes. Hence, the real monument is the public space that now surrounds and highlights the historical City Hall.

This building earned Franck Hammoutène the Équerre d’Argent architecture prize in 2006.
Architect :
Franck Hammoutène
Year :2006
Type : Oiice - public space
Address :
hôtel de ville - 13002 marseille
Géolocalisation google