A visionary call for architectural proposals has generated nineteen innovative designs reimagining Marseille's future, featuring everything from rooftop swimming pools atop the Centre Bourse shopping center to extensive urban greenification throughout France's second-largest city. The initiative, launched by the City of Marseille last June, invited architects, urban planners, and landscape designers to voluntarily submit their concepts for an "inclusive, sustainable, and desirable" metropolis over the next decade.
"Dreams are the starting point of everything," emphasizes architect Jean-Christophe Masson, who responded to the city's call by proposing a dramatic transformation of the Pharo cove area. Facing Marseille's iconic skyline, his vision includes a pedestrian bridge leading to innovative new developments that would fundamentally alter the waterfront's character and accessibility.
The submitted proposals showcase remarkably diverse and ambitious ideas for urban renewal. Pierre-Louis Leclercq has designed a comprehensive plan to reconnect the city center, the Prado metro station, and the coastline by reimagining the avenue while maintaining two lanes each direction for cars and buses, but prioritizing soft mobility options and pedestrian access. His concept transforms the space into Barcelona-style ramblas that would stretch along the Avenue du Prado, creating a beach-like atmosphere in the heart of the city.
Between the Saumaty and Mourepiane neighborhoods, architect Jean-Michel Battesti has envisioned a new "Cité Radieuse" - a reference to Le Corbusier's famous housing unit already present in Marseille. His proposal would utilize 20,000 square meters of currently unexploited curved coastal land to create 30,000 square meters of mixed-use development combining residential housing and commercial activities. This ambitious project represents a significant expansion of Marseille's modernist architectural heritage.
Nicolas Masson from NJMH Architects aims to "repair the historical error that was the disappearance of the Dragon Street elevator/funicular in 1967." His innovative solution involves creating a 600-meter cable car system connecting the lower city to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, affectionately known as "la Bonne Mère" (the Good Mother) by locals. This transportation link would restore a vital connection that was lost decades ago while offering tourists and residents spectacular panoramic views.
Environmental consciousness runs throughout many proposals, with trees featuring prominently in designs across the city. Architect Corinne Vezzoni has proposed extensive vegetation around the Old Port (Vieux-Port), while Stéphan Bernard envisions green spaces at the foot of the Major Cathedral. These concepts aim to reconnect urban dwellers with nature while addressing climate change challenges. The greenification extends from the Belsunce neighborhood to the Réformés area, creating corridors of vegetation that would transform Marseille's urban landscape.
Waterfront development features heavily in several submissions, with proposals for floating platforms throughout the harbor creating new swimming spots and recreational areas. A fish market at the Pharo cove would revive traditional maritime commerce while serving modern needs. These aquatic installations would take advantage of Marseille's Mediterranean location while making the waterfront more accessible to residents and visitors.
The initiative draws inspiration from a similar 2022 project undertaken by the City of Paris in collaboration with the Council of Architecture, Urban Planning and Environment (CAUE), which launched a comprehensive participatory prospective process to imagine the capital in 2050. Facing mounting climate and social challenges, Marseille officials saw the value in this forward-thinking approach and adapted it to their Mediterranean context.
City officials specified sixteen thematic areas for consideration and imposed one crucial constraint: all projects must be feasible for implementation within the next ten years. This realistic timeframe distinguishes the initiative from purely speculative architectural exercises and suggests genuine municipal interest in potentially advancing some proposals from concept to reality.
The nineteen proposals are currently available for public consultation through the city's official website at marseille.fr/marseilledemain, allowing residents to engage with and provide feedback on these visions for their city's future. Whether the initiative represents primarily a communication exercise or genuine planning for Marseille's development, the images and concepts have succeeded in generating public discussion about urban priorities and possibilities. The diversity of submissions demonstrates both the creative potential of contemporary French architecture and the complex challenges facing Mediterranean cities in the twenty-first century.
