A renewed heritage

What would be the point of building tomorrow's heritage if we
neglected yesterday's?

Beyond preserving heritage, renovating and rebuilding on existing assets is often a strategic, economic, and ecological approach. It also allows us to work in a context where land, particularly in urban areas, is becoming scarce. Here, we have chosen to present examples that illustrate this desire to enhance and perpetuate heritage in three different areas: the public sector, with the Allauch power plant; the community sector, with Notre-Dame de la Garde; and the private sector, with the Hôtel de Cabre.

Hôtel de Cabre: a new life

Built around 1535, this architectural gem, which escaped the destruction of the old districts of Marseille in 1943 and rotated 90 degrees in 1954, is beginning a second life to anchor itself permanently in the urban fabric of the 21st century.

The primary objective of this renovation is to restore the Hôtel de Cabre to its exceptional character, while ensuring its longevity over time. Listed as a historic monument and a rare example of the Renaissance period in Marseille, the building required a demanding intervention, guided by a deep knowledge of its history and its original materials. The facades, made of Crown stone, from the  regions of Ponteau and Lavéra, combine Gothic and Renaissance elements. They showed multiple signs of alteration, mainly due to atmospheric deposits linked to pollution,  severe erosion, biological colonization and material removal. A meticulous restoration work, using cutting-edge techniques,
was carried out to restore their original pink color and shine. It also brought its animal figures and motifs (monkeys, snakes, lions, goats, etc.) back to life. The roof was completely revised and replaced. Each window, with joinery redone in the 16th century style, was fitted with double glazing. The stained glass windows were redone and restored. The apartments, whose French-style ceilings were preserved, underwent a complete renovation, in compliance with environmental standards and contemporary practices. 

These major conservation and restoration works, both interior and exterior, are being led by the young Marseille real estate operator Rise, which has surrounded itself with expert partners to ensure the successful execution of this demanding rehabilitation, and supervised by ARCHIGEM, heritage architects. 

The project, launched in July 2024, will be delivered next December.