Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building of the 42-66 dock of the Port in Marseille, built in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century, is part of the project of reconstruction of the Old Port after the German destructions of 1943. The Tourette district, shaved with the exception of the town hall, was redesigned by architect Fernand Pouillon, in collaboration with Auguste Perret and André Devin, to create a homogeneous ensemble combining tradition and modernity. The facades open with shooting balconies and the covered gallery on the ground floor, open to the port by arcades, make it a symbol of Marseille urban renewal.

The construction, which began in 1949, mobilized noble materials such as the bridge stone of the Gard and innovative techniques (armed concrete, apparent brick hurdles) to reconcile quality and economy. The five-storey building, the last of which is in retreat, is distinguished by its careful alignment with the city hall and its elegant coffered ceilings. Only this building on the dock of the Port has been listed as a historical monument since 1993, while the Roman Dock Museum is integrated into a nearby building, Place Vivaux.

The project is part of a polemic context of post-war modernization, initiated in 1941 by Eugène Beaudouin. The 64 houses and shops under arcades, completed in 1954, illustrate a synthesis between craftsmanship and architectural audacity. The 100-metre facade, made of stone and concrete, reflects the ambition to restore an identity to the Marseille seafront, while preserving harmony with the old building.

The facades and roofs were listed as historic monuments on December 16, 1993, recognizing their heritage value. The building today bears witness to the reconstruction of Marseille, where technical innovation and respect for the site (alignment, materials) allowed to reconcile memory and modernity. The shady gallery, always animated by restaurant terraces, remains a central place of life for residents and tourists.

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