Bastide Désiré Michel

Did Désiré Michel ever imagine his grand Bastide would become an orphanage, then apartments? Bastide Désiré Michel stands before you, a testament to Marseille’s 19th-century architectural flair. It’s a classic bastide, but with a unique story. Its namesake, Désiré Michel, wasn’t just any wealthy merchant. He was a cement entrepreneur who championed the use of Portland cement in façade decoration. This technique, spreading through Marseille in the mid-1800s, added ornate beauty at a lower cost than traditional stone. Michel even decorated the façade of the Eglise de la Mission de France in 1860 with his innovative cement work. Bastide Désiré Michel stands as the only two-story vacation home in the area from the latter half of the 19th century. Its grandeur even earned it the title of “château” in local guides. In 1859, Michel purchased the Julien property. He quickly sold the upper portion, keeping about two hectares. Existing farmhouses and a master’s house already stood on the land. He expanded the master’s house, adding windows. In 1863, he constructed the chapel, its façade richly adorned with rocaille cement work. This intricate detail is dated 1864 and signed by Stanislas Cailhol, a prominent Marseille rocailleur. Michel might have incorporated the older buildings, raising their height in 1865 or 1874. He added a colonnaded porch and balcony. The Bastide also boasted an open-air billiard room and a lavish park. Imagine fountains, a greenhouse, shaded pathways, and even a stable. In 1926, the Italian government bought the property and converted it into an orphanage. Around 1960, a private high school was built in the park. By 1969, the estate was divided into apartments. The chapel became a residence, and the once-grand park transformed into a housing development. The Bastide Désiré Michel stands today as a reminder of a bygone era. It echoes with the footsteps of children, the elegance of a wealthy merchant, and the ingenuity of a cement pioneer.