Have you ever wondered about a building that has transformed over time? Today we are standing in front of L’Armande. It is a former bastide in Marseille. Now it houses the Bnei Elazar school group.
L’Armande has a rich history. It was once owned by the De Leusse family for many years. The family later split the property. They sold part of it to developers. Robert Brun lives in the resulting co-op. Another part with the bastide was sold to Alexandre Ammar.
In 2012, Ammar sought to renovate L’Armande. He wanted to create a training center. It later became a religious school Bnei Elazar. The city approved the permit. It asked that the building’s heritage be preserved.
The Bnei Elazar school group was established in 2004. It includes primary school, middle school and high school students. Enrollment increased. So the school expanded to L’Armande. The bastide was renovated for the occasion. It sits on a large park.
However, L’Armande has faced some issues. There have been infractions of urban planning codes. A neighbor noticed construction work. It seemed more extensive than permitted. The work even involved cutting down trees. City services issued fines over five years.
One issue involved a “preau”. It turned out to be a two-story building with walls. The city said that the building was built in a protected wooded area. This is not allowed.
School representatives said that security concerns justified the changes. They described the building as a “confinement area”. This would protect students in case of a terrorist attack. They said the Service de protection de la communauté juive requested it.
The school also stated that they have improved the state of L’Armande. They claim that no living trees were cut down. They say that the vegetation was already deteriorated.
The city refused to issue a building permit. So the school applied for a temporary permit. This was also rejected. The school filed an appeal.
The story of L’Armande shows how buildings can change. It also reveals the complex issues. These issues involve development, preservation and security. The bastide now serves a new purpose. It provides education and a place for students to learn. L’Armande is an interesting building in Marseille with a complex story.