Haven’t you ever wondered who Pascal Xavier Coste was? This street immortalizes him in Marseille. Let’s dive into the life of this remarkable man.
Pascal Coste was not just any architect. Born in Marseille in 1787 he became a leading figure in architecture. His journey began here in Marseille. His father was a leading joiner. Recognizing his son’s talent, Coste’s father enrolled him in studies with Michel-Robert Penchaud. Penchaud was a local architect.
In 1814, Coste’s career took him to Paris. He joined the École des Beaux-Arts. There, he met geographer Edme-François Jomard. This meeting changed Coste’s life. Jomard connected Coste with Muhammad Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha was the viceroy of Egypt.
In 1817, Ali Pasha hired Coste as his personal architect. Coste traveled to Egypt. He constructed canals. He reorganized the defenses of Aboukir.
Coste returned to France in 1825. He had impressive drawings of Cairo’s architecture. But Egypt beckoned again. Ali Pasha requested Coste’s return. He became the chief engineer for Lower Egypt. After accumulating many sketches and finding the climate difficult, Coste returned to France in 1829.
Back in France, Coste became a professor. He taught architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He maintained connections with Penchaud. Coste also became a founding member of the Athénée. It was an intellectual center.
Coste’s travels didn’t stop there. He journeyed through France, Germany, Belgium, and Tunisia. He produced authoritative works on architecture. His “Architecture Arabe” earned him a spot on the French king’s embassy to the Iranian Shah.
In Iran, Coste and painter Eugène Flandin explored extensively. They visited Iranian Azerbaijan, Isfahan, and Shiraz. They studied the ruins of Ecbatana, Bistun, and Persepolis. Coste sketched prolifically. On his way back, he saw the ruins of Seleucia and Babylon. He even visited Nineveh.
His Middle East journey captured King Louis Philippe I’s interest. In 1844, Coste became the chief architect of Marseille. In 1846, he was commissioned to design the Bourse. It stands proudly on Marseille’s Canebière.
Coste also initiated other projects in Marseille. These included the Faculté aux Allées de Meilhan and a museum at Longchamps. He started construction on the abattoir d’Arenc. It was completed in 1851.
Even past 80, Coste continued to travel. He visited Spain, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Russia, and Italy. He left behind 30 albums of drawings. They are now preserved at the Bibliothèque de Marseille.
Pascal Coste died in Marseille at 92. He was buried at the Cimetière Saint-Pierre. He was made an officer of the Légion d’Honneur.
So as you walk along Rue Pascal Xavier Coste remember the life of a man who journeyed from Marseille to Egypt and Persia. He left his mark on architecture and history. This street serves as a lasting tribute.