Smartseille is part of a more wide-ranging plan introduced to expand the scope of the Euroméditerranée project in 2009.
The Euroméditerranée public planning body (EPAEM) was awarded the EcoCité label, devised by the Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy as a means to promote “architectural, social and energy innovation in cities”.
The project has become the largest urban renewal scheme in Europe and aims to provide a testbed for sustainable city projects, tailored to the specific climatic, geographical, cultural, human and economic factors of the Mediterranean region.
Eiffage was brought in as lead contractor to build the Allar showcase district—dubbed Smartseille—on a 2.7-hectare plot.
The group focused its R&D on new, cleaner construction methods and a more comprehensive systemic approach to sustainable urban development.
Phosphore, Eiffage’s sustainable urban development research programme, was instrumental in the process.
Eiffage Immobilier designed the new eco-neighbourhood using the innovative, sustainable solutions for eco-construction, mobility, housing and urban planning developed through Phosphore.
Expertise, innovations, energy-saving initiatives, new lifestyle habits and services are all an integral part of Smartseille.
Smartseille provides 58,000 m2 of homes, offices and amenities and is the 112th village in the Marseille area. It offers 385 positive-energy housing units, including 100 used for social housing, a 100-bed residence for seniors, 27,500 m2 of office space, 300 m2 of retail space, a 90-room hotel and a 35-cot day nursery.
Some of the office space is used by 400 Marseille council employees and staff from Eiffage Construction Sud-Est.
A symbol of the co-living concept, Smartseille can accommodate 4,000 inhabitants and will provide 2,000 jobs by the final handover in 2018.
Marseille launches Smartseille, a showcase eco-neighbourhood! (2015)