Location: Marseille, France
Developer: Constructa Urban Systems
Designer: 5 + 1 AAA Agency
Size/Dimensions: 4.033 acres

Les Docks Village is a ground floor rehabilitation of “The Docks”, a historic and emblematic building built in 1857 located on the harbor of Marseille and purchased by JP Morgan in 2007. Completion of Les Docks Village marks the end of the renovation of the nearly 1,200 ft., 7 story building made of bricks and stones. A well-approached strategy to turn the ground floor into an urban center and an open space to the public as opposed to an enclosed shopping center sets the site apart from the rest of the area while seamlessly incorporating it into the urban fabric. Les Docks Village incorporates 161,458.66 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space for around 60 shops on each side of the main street, with 4 different courtyards. The estimated total cost of the project is about $50.606 million.

Although the entire building consists of requalified existing materials including stone walls, brick vaults and iron portals, the architectural and design qualities of each room, hallway and corridor offer visitors a new experience and a unique sense of place. Various restaurants, bars, an indoor fresh market, terraces, and convivial places to enjoy meeting people after work or to spend time with your family create a strong festive atmosphere. 40% of the spaces are dedicated to “food” through restaurants, bars, and the fresh market, and 20% are reserved for community stores with artisans and creators.

The strategy of the developer was to first attract the loyalty of the 15,000 employees working in the immediate area and respond to their daily needs. This refurbishment has increased total revenue by 40%, providing stability through a diverse portfolio of revenue sources and clearly exemplifying the value of development such as Les Docks Village.