Construction of the villa 1885 (≈ 1885)
Ordered by Antoine Emery for his residence.
2016
Purchase by the city
Purchase by the city 2016 (≈ 2016)
Acquisition for restoration and conversion.
16 juillet 2021
Partial classification
Partial classification 16 juillet 2021 (≈ 2021)
Protection of facades, decorations and gardens.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The following parts of Villa Valcormes, as delegated in red on the plans annexed to the decree: villa: facades and roof; indoors, the old winter garden at the level of basement and the ground floor in full with all its decorations; guard house: facades and roof; dependence (old washhouse): facades and roof; garden; the terraces surrounding the villa and the rock installations made on the whole of Parcel No. 46, situated in the valley of the Cormes, Chemin de la Bigotte, appearing in the cadastre on Parcel 903 C 46: inscription by order of 16 July 2021
Key figures
Antoine Emery - Sponsored industrial
Original owner, Sevenèmes resin manufacturer.
Origin and history
The villa Valcormes, located in the district of Notre-Dame Limite (15th arrondissement of Marseille), was built in 1885 for industrialist Antoine Emery, whose resin factory was located in Septèmes. Squarely with a corner pavilion, it embodies the architecture of the Marseille bastides of the late 19th century, blending classicism, picturesque and rustic elements. Its eclectic facades are home to an exceptional wall decor: lakescapes in the former smoking room, trompe-l'oeil imitating a velvet adorned with fables of La Fontaine in the dining room, and a metallic pergola opening onto Istanbul views in the Ottoman lounge. The author of these sets, like that of the rock of the garden – artificial caves, benches and stone gardeners – remains unknown.
The raised ground floor, dedicated to receptions, and the undercast winter garden reflect the bourgeois way of life of the time. The rock terraces, characteristic of the Marseille properties, highlight the landscape integration of the villa. Purchased by the municipality in 2016, it was restored to become a health centre. The elements protected since 2021 include facades, roofs, interior decorations, as well as the garden and its amenities, reflecting the heritage value of the site.
The architect of the villa is not identified, just like the artisans of paintings and rocks. The plot, located road to the Bigotte (vallon of the Cormes), illustrates the urbanization of the Marseille hills by industrial aristocracy. The mix of styles – neoclassical, orientalist and naturalist – and the illusionist techniques of interior decorations make this a remarkable example of architectural eclecticism of the period.
Listed among the Historical Monuments, the villa Valcormes embodies both the fascist of Marseilles secondary residences and the ingenuity of local artisans. Its garden, with its false caves and terraces, evokes Mediterranean influences and taste for the reconstructed landscapes, typical of the bastides of the period. Today, as a public property, it perpetuates its social role, moving from resorts to health facilities to the service of the Marseilles.
