In a previous post, I presented the MOMA=Marseille Modulor, a design and art gallery nestled in the gymnasium of Le Corbusier’s « Cite Radieuse », courtesy of star designer Ora Ito, see post here. The MAMO currently showcases the Audi Talents Awards, the work of laureates since 2007 in an exhibition called Residence secondaire. LAUREATS DESIGN: Arnaud Lapierre, laureat 2011, […]
Amazing how many museums are opening or reopening in Marseille, one French comic was even doing a sketch on that the other day on the radio.. Indeed there seems to be a museum opening every other month theses days, but that’s because before MP2013, Marseille was indecently poor in museal space, so thanks to all
It is only fair that this major exhibition on Le Corbusier’s work takes place in Marseille, on the beloved Mediterranean shores, in the town of the « Cite radieuse », first construction in which LC experimented the « romantisme du mal foutu ». The exhibitions reveals the architect but also the painter and sculptor Accounts of his
A fascinating exhibition of Marc Held‘s work at Galerie A. Pentcheff: archives, black and white photography taken by Marc in the 50’s, vintage culbutos, designs from the 70’s for IBM, mini museum, and cherry on the cake: the limited edition of the iconic Primo culbuto, only shown once in the 70’s as a prototype, here on sale
Some views of the magnificent town centre, it’s blond stone buildings ornate with delicate sculptures and intricate ironworks And on this « Journee Europeenne du Patrimoine », several buildings had animations: The customs house: Eglise Notre-Dame Cour Mably, showcasing the workmanship of wood and stone workers, ironmongers all « Compagnons » (a qualification that implies several
Behind the MAMO is Ora Ito, a precocious design genius who created the buzz when he was 19. In a superbly generous move, he bought Le Corbusier Cite Radieuse‘s gymnasium and renovated it in order to turn it into an art centre: the MArseille MOdulor, with an obvious 😉 to NY’s MoMA, Marseille style. For
On a sunny (of course!) Sunday morning, here we are on the shuttle that leads us to the much anticipated Digue du Large, a jetty off the harbour that goes out into the sea…. so love to navigate, and so loved the trip!! The free shuttle leaves from the quay between the Villa Mediterrannee
The Fort St Jean is the XVIIth century fortress guarding the entrance of Marseille’s harbour. Unlike it’s neighbour, the fort St Nicolas on the south bank of the harbour, it has been closed to the public for several years, so it’s reopening is a blessing. Even well before the MUCEM’s inauguration, the promenade at the foot
Just had to be amongst the first lucky people to get in after the preview week-end in January… so here am I, on friday june 7th, 9 am…. and the Mucem kept all of it’s promises: it’s totally glorious in the sun, as it embraces the blues of the sea and the skies between it’s
Although I was born in Chile, I consider Strasbourg to be my home town as I grew up there, and met my husband there as well, so it’s always with great pleasure that we stroll the streets of this gem of a town with our children. On top of having the most beautiful cathedral in
No need to present the grand site of the Acropole, it’s now also enjoyed from a pedestrian path around its base on what used to be a busy road before The new Acropolis Museum, terminated in 2007, offers a contemporary space to the antique sculptures and archaeologic findings of the Acropolis site, as well as some
Our last trip to Greece dated from the late 80’s, a marvellous time backpacking and island hopping through the Cycladic island…also one of our first « grown up » trips with my boyfriend-husband-to-be…so it was with much emotion that we travel back there to show the marvels of Greece to our children…..and with much relief, we realise
The Silo, built in 1924, used to be a wheat container at the time of Marseille’s grand commercial days. Abandoned for a while, it was declared historical industrial building and bought by the town of Marseille in 2001, after an extensive renovation from 2007 onwards, it became partly an office block, and finally opened the
Although the vieux port’s actual face seems quite normal to most considering it’s importance as Marseille’s focal point, it used to be no more than a few feet wide stretch of sidewalk with most of the pavement dedicated to traffic and boat owners. Although the planners couldn’t make the traffic disappear completely (the car
La Vieille Charite, one of Marseille’s architect Pierre Pujet’s masterpiece used to be a shelter house for the poor. Abandonned, it was refurbished in the 1980’s. It now houses the Mediterranean Architectural Museum. It’s peaceful courtyard is a welcome stop on a hot day after a stroll through the Panier, or now, through the sea
A pier belonging to the harbour of Marseille, for MP2013 European capital of culture, the J1 is being lend to the city of Marseille and hosts events and exhibitions. Its metallic industrial-looking structure, harbours different pop-ups (a cafe, a shop/library, a photo studio and a concert/theatre scene) and galleries, all enjoying the incredible views over
I still remember the driving into Marseille for the first time, past the docks, and being stunned by the beauty of the regular alignment of windows and the bright glow of the blond stone in the strong light…I almost had an accident as I kept twisting my head round to look at this never-ending row
On our second trip to Rome, we still haven’t discovered but a fraction of it’s museums and it’s monuments, we just tend to get lost in those romantic narrow streets, nose up, admiring the graceful ochre frontages… Ochres are also in the antique brickwork…. …and even the cars follow the proper colour-coding!
This incredible spot was recommended by my favourite anything-Italian-blog: Urban Italy Antique sculptures from the Capitolino Museum collections are here presented amongst the machinery of a disused power station: the Centrale Montemartini. A total hit especially at the moment with the prevailing industrial trend. Added bonus: it is totally out of the way, so free