This design for a compound in Marseille, France, seeks coherence among its new and existing buildings: La Bastide, Les Écuries, and the Academy. These three structures exist as independent clusters while having to maintain functional connections. Intentional fragmentation occurs between various opposing elements: the old and the new, the private and the public, and open and closed spaces. This results in a versatile experience, unified by the continued use of local limestone cladding. The aim is to achieve a well-balanced and holistic integration of academic, leisure, and private programs within the natural landscape and its historical context.
La Bastide, the focal point of the site, is a historically classified neoclassical residence dating back to the 17th century. Carefully renovated to return to its original splendor, its existing façade was preserved, while its interior was redesigned to provide a flexible, interactive space. The surrounding park landscape, featuring a reflective body of water, integrates La Bastide within the compound, making it a prominent icon on the urban scale. It also sets the tone for the unified use of the honey-colored Marseille limestone across the project.
The old horse stable, Les Écuries, is transformed from its current decaying, nostalgic state into a contemporary, relaxed, and playful space, serving as a social hub for the Academy and campus community.
The new Academy building is designed as a procession of fluid spaces and experiences, upholding flexibility as a key principle. Organized along a simple longitudinal circulation spine with an open courtyard that serves as an external extension of the Academy space, it provides a sizable breakout area for outdoor gatherings. Urban ascending stairs connect the lower and upper floors both internally and externally, functioning as stage seating with the Bastide building as a backdrop.
