Historic Grand Port of Marseille to be reborn as seafront leisure hub
by Andrew Manns | 07 Feb 2019
French architecture firm Reichen and Robert (RR&A) have been selected to spearhead a €100m (US$113.4m, £87.3m) makeover of Marseille-Fos Port (the Grand Port of Marseille) – the largest seaport in France.
Dubbed the "J1, La Passerelle", the new 29,106 sq m mixed-use structure, which will be located minutes away from the iconic Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée (MUCEM), will offer extensive recreational amenities, including a floating pool, climbing wall, esports room, public promenade, spa, and water park.
Multiple restaurants and retail outlets, as well as 130-room hotel, will round out the property's leisure offerings.
Alluding to Marseille’s millennia-old legacy as an epicentre of travel and commerce, Bernard Reichen, principal at RR&A, commented that the project would serve as an "evocation of adventurous voyages".
Similarly, Jean-Claude Gaudin, Marseille's mayor, said that the Mediterranean city would "finally get to know a new life worthy of its past".
He continued: "The final layout of this site is, in fact, an essential stake to make the coastline of Marseille even more attractive and innovative."
Over the last ten years, Marseille-Fos Port, which welcomes more than two million passengers a year, has become the most popular cruise terminal in France.
J1 is being jointly developed by Banque des Territoires, Caisse des Dépots, and ADIM Provence, and is anticipated to be completed in 2023.
Groundbreaking, which will be undertaken by Vinci Construction, is slated for 2021.
Marseille Reichen and Robert port J1 La Passarelle
Hailed as a 'gateway to the open sea' the new attraction will feature extensive recreational facilities, including a water park, esports space, floating pool, and climbing wall. Credit: Courtesy of Reichen and Robert
French architecture firm Reichen and Robert (RR&A) have been selected to spearhead a €100m (US$113.4m, £87.3m) makeover of Marseille-Fos Port (the Grand Port of Marseille) – the largest seaport in France. Dubbed the "J1, La Passerelle", the new 29,106 sq m mixed-use structure, which will be located minutes away from the iconic Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée (MUCEM), will offer extensive recreational amenities, including a floating
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