Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan vision

Landscape map

The study for Aix Marseille Provence aims to build an integrative approach to the constitution of the city, built around the notion of a shared rich and diverse territory. The study works on both the physical transformation of the territory and its image. The study is structured in three parts: 1. Metropolitan vision, 2. Metropolitan pieces, 3. Metropolitan systems projects.

The Metropolitan vision revealed the forces of the territory and pointed to critical issues that traverse boundaries. The vision set forth implementable actions across the metropolis on a short- and long-term basis. Three major themes organized the vision: 1. Landscapes, 2. Mobility, and 3. Economies and Cultures.

Study structure

These themes were made specific by zooming into certain areas of the territory, “Metropolitan Pieces.” The pieces were delineated by the overlapping of critical systems and key locations for future commitments and investments to enhance, grow and re-shape, etc. over a 15-20 year period.

Pilot projects within each of these territorial pieces demonstrated the first steps toward realizing a long-term strategy. These projects formed a network that served the Metropolis as a whole, termed “Metropolitan Systems Projects”.

Typology matrix

Each ‘Systems’ project case, when applied to specific geography, emphasized how these networks could better structure the place, its uses, and processes. The three types of systems were: 1. Metropolitan parks - offers tools to reinforce the landscape identity of the metropolis and build a new City-Nature relation; 2. The Transferium - proposes new typologies of interchanges between public transport, everyday life, mobility, services, trade, and other forms of community engagement; 3. Metropolitan Territories Team - a proposal to create operational entities in charge of specific sectors that aim to be catalysts and facilitators of urban development.

Location

Aix-Marseille-Provence, France

Year

2015

Area

810 km²

Program

Public Space, Transportation, Infrastructure, Landscape

Collaborators

LIN Architects, ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles), Finn Geipel Architects, CMN Partners, EGIS group, Reperage Urbain, Soville, Yes We Camp

Mission ORG

Urbanism, Feasibility study, Masterplan

Team

Alexander D’Hooghe, Marcel Smets, Matthias Blondia, Aaron Weller, Kobi Ruthenberg

Clients

Préfecture de la région PACA