Envision the Lotissement Les Bastides de la Tour. It stands as a quiet testament to a bygone era. The Lotissement Les Bastides de la Tour is nestled within what was once a grand 19th-century mansion. This mansion, known as Bastide Désiré-Michel, tells a tale of ambitious industrialists, artistic rocailleurs, and the changing fortunes of Marseille’s architectural landscape.
Bastide Désiré-Michel, the heart of today’s Lotissement Les Bastides de la Tour, wasn’t always a collection of homes. It began as the vision of Désiré Michel, a prominent cement entrepreneur. He acquired the property in 1859, reshaping a piece of Marseille’s history. Désiré Michel was a key figure in popularizing the use of Portland cement in façade decoration. This innovative technique, recognized at international expositions, allowed for ornate designs at a fraction of the cost of traditional stonework. You can imagine the impact this had on Marseille’s architecture in the mid-19th century.
In 1863, Michel added a chapel to his estate. Its façade, richly adorned with rocaille cement work, proudly bore the signature of Stanislas Cailhol, a renowned Marseille rocailleur. The bastide itself boasted a unique two-story design, unusual for vacation homes in the area at the time. Its grandeur even earned it the title of “château” in local guides. The property also featured a now-vanished open-air billiard room. A sprawling park complemented the mansion. This park was complete with basins, fountains, a greenhouse, and shaded pathways.
Time marched on, and so did the fate of Bastide Désiré-Michel. In 1926, the estate was sold to the Italian government. It was transformed into an orphanage, marked by a mosaic on the loggia. This mosaic displays the arms of Savoy and the inscription “ORFANOTROFIO/PRINCIPE UMBERTO.” Around 1960, a private high school was built within the park, further altering the landscape. Finally, in 1969, the property met its final transformation. The once-grand bastide was divided into apartments. The ornate chapel became a residence. The extensive gardens gave way to a housing development in 1972-1973.
Today, the Lotissement Les Bastides de la Tour exists as fragments of the past woven into the present. As you stand here, you are not simply observing houses. You are witnessing the remnants of a grand estate. This estate reflects the architectural innovation and social changes that have shaped this corner of Marseille.