For more thaan twenty years, the Euroméditerranée Public Development Establishment (EPA) has been designing, developing, and building the sustainable Mediterranean city of tomorrow in the heart of the Marseille metropolis. Located within the perimeter of the ZAC de la Joliette in Marseille, this housing project is part of this vast project, as part of the plan for the “M1” block.
In a context of strong urbanity, the challenge was to place a domestic universe in all serenity and considering the specificities of its environment, the constraints of wind, noise, the western sun, and sea spray.
The main body of the building develops a thick and protective front facade on the west side with a view of the sea. The openings, which are predominantly horizontal to take advantage of the sea view, are protected by a sunscreen located in front of the facade.
In the heart of the block, the facade is cut into steps, following the grid of the whole block, with the flats facing south. The rear facades express the openness to the heart of the block, protected from noise and wind.