Further expanding my interest in public design and accessibility, I am implementing an architectural practice of introducing and contextualising the building within the established city with specific historicity. Taking its idea from the history and cultural context of Marseille—a city that acted as a port of the French Empire, thus resulting in superior craftsmanship—the project argues for the importance of relocating the Lès Ecole Beaux-Arts de Marseille (hereafter, INSEAMM) to the La Tourette neighbourhood. It is expected that this relocation will benefit the institution and its students for their increased accessibility to a wider public, as well as act as a nexus of local rejuvenation with increased population and art-centric development that will attract more tourists.

The project’s suggestion to relocate the INSEAMM from its current campus to the city centre also stems from concerns regarding infrastructure both for students and also residents. As the college is located on the edge of a forest, 13 km away from Zone 1, the students felt unsafe after sunsets as the surrounding infrastructure is inadequately lighted. The staff expressed their feeling of insecurity as well due to the wild animals living nearby. INSEAMM’s isolated location also causes an issue in that it disconnects the students and their art projects from the outer public, especially for crucial events such as degree shows and art auction programmes.

With the relocation of INSEAMM, the students will not only have far greater accessibility to the wider public, especially for open studio and student auctions, but there also will be opportunities to actively foster collaboration between art students and local galleries and museums. This will provide the tourists not only the experience of seeing historic art but also encountering the most contemporary and avant-garde works by the students. The relocation will also supplement the tourist area with residents, which in turn will rejuvenate smaller local businesses. Through my project, I aim to create an organic synergy between preserving the symbolic-historic-cultural context, the rejuvenation of the neighbourhood, and enhancing the art experience.