Marseilles Fos Port, France – ESPO initiative
Marseilles’ Silo d’Arenc is being converted to give social and port use
The Silo of Arenc was built in 1926 on the Marseilles Fos port. A symbol of the industrial heritage of the area, in its day, this edifice revolutionised the handling and the mechanical routing of cereals.
The Silo inspired, according to architectural historians, Le Corbusier who brought into his concept of the 'Cité Radieuse' the same idea of a building on piles. It offers a gigantic social and domestic space, while also allowing for other activities on the ground: an attractive idea for urban environments as it keeps large areas of free space underneath without decreasing its density.
However, the Silo itself has been closed since the end of the 80s and had been under threat of demolition for many years: the port had even been given a permit to tear it down and use the space for storage.
However the emotions that the demolition order provoked among local people made the port reconsider, and the port authority instead decided to identify potential conversion projects.
There was just one single constraint: like Corbusier's 'Cité Radieuse', it would be aimed at unity, in this case of port and community, so the potential development would concern only the upper levels - the ground floor had to be saved for the port's use.
After consideration, the port authority chose a design that gave the community both a multi-purpose auditorium and offices. The construction started in November 2008 and complete delivery is planned for January 2011.
The port authority explains that the building is also going to provide a way for the people of Marseilles to recognise the work of the port, as it will be spread out in front of them as a gigantic panorama.
However, it isn't the first time the port has brought the two ideas of community and operations together, as another initiative presently underway is a shopping mall called 'Terrasses du port'. This will be built on the upper deck of the port facilities, while the ground floor will be preserved for port operations. The project should open in 2013.
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