ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
LA PORTE BLEUE
AN OPEN DOOR TO THE MEDITERRANEAN
PietriArchitectes agency presents Porte Bleue , a tourist residence and accommodation in Marseille , France . The 414 white concrete vaults that make up the facade of the tower give an arborescent design and open the view to the Mediterranean in subtle architectural poetry .
La Porte Bleue is part of a real-estate program of 4 distinct buildings ( offices , housing , and shops ) at the heart of the overall development operation of ZAC Euroméditerranée . The project represents a true place of connection between the port , the roads , and the city , and it embodies one of the gateways to Marseille .
The Quays of Arenc : A new dynamic for the city By offering a 4-star tourist residence , now belonging to Odalys as a new emblem of the tourist accommodation group , La Porte Bleue is part of the dynamism of a new district . The tower also offers housing for home buyers and features a retail outlet on the first floor . An independent restaurant , projecting from the main volume , will in turn energize this interiority with its 3 glass façades and planted roof .
One project , two entities Within a 53-meter-high building , two entities make up the program : - The first is a 4-star tourist residence on the 11 lower levels , comprising 250 units with refined decor . It is also a space dedicated to well-being with the presence of an indoor swimming pool and other equipment dedicated to that purpose , while a restaurant and reception areas complete the whole .
- The second entity , built on the last 7 levels , consists of 68 housing units with a total floor area of 4,891m ², all with beautiful surfaces and unobstructed views . A decision was made to provide all of the accommodations with large loggias , considered as additional open living rooms .
The tower comprises a wide range of housing : simplex housing ranging from T1 to T4 on levels R + 12 to R + 16 , and duplex housing ranging from T3 to T4 are offered on the last 2 levels , R + 17 and R + 18 .
The poetry of vaults : Balancing elegance and technique
The facades of the project are made up of a multitude of vaults leaning on one another . The vaults had to meet strict specifications with the choice of concrete with a lower environmental impact , shaped locally in the town of Aubagne , a town close to Marseille . This concrete adornment gives the tower a particular tree-like design that has become a landmark and true signature of the work . The rounded shapes of the vaults frame the landscape in a soft and singular way through a curve from each interior space . These concrete vaults contribute to the waterproofing of the exterior envelope , in concert with the aluminum joinery . With their 90 cm deep cap , they also play an important role in protecting residents from the wind and the sun , without depriving them of generous glazing . La Porte Bleue has 50 % glass surface and opening windows for an exceptional quality of life .
Photos : Lisa Ricciotti
Project : Construction of a 4-star tourist residence and housing units Client : Constructa Promotion Technical Engineering Agency : BET Yves Garnier Structural Engineer : BET Masse Area : 13 000m ² Cost : 21 M € Design phase : 2016-2017 Completion : September 2023
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