Arquitectura

I expect my twins to choose two places out of all the ones they like and regard as emblematic of their relationship with the city. By all means not an easy task. I thought it was fair enough that ishould reciprocate. Here we go.
I was born, I grew up and lived in Marseille until I was 18. My family settled there a long time ago. And I sometimes find it difficult to identify which memories aremine and mine only and which were passed on to me by my brother, my parents or grand parents… It’s like my being a «Marseillaise» is not only a personal construct but was, for a good part, inherited.When I walk the streets of what is known as «le quartier des antiquaires» (a part of the city with many antics shops), nearby the Prefecture, it feels as if i was transported back in time, relivingpart of my mother’s family history. There, rue Bonnefoy, my grandfather’s grandfather used to be a frame maker, the father of my grandfather sold antics, as did my grandmother, mother and uncle. Athome, antics were everywhere and i was raised among them. I do like antics, still, but my grandfather would probably be puzzled by my taste for contemporary art. I sometimes wonder, would he laugh,frown, would he too take interest new art forms…
Moving on to la Joliette, the harbor district and yet another travel in time, back to my father’s past this time. His mother, my grandmother, spent herchildhood there. She used to live place de la Joliette. She remembers fondly the hustle and bustle of dockers loading, unloading ships, the lively atmosphere of night bars were they used to gatherafter their hard working day. At night, she could feel the vibrations of buses and streetcars driving by her apartment, at times making it really difficult for her to sleep. I never got a chance toexperience the tales my grandmother told me. By the time i grew up the area had sinked into recession offering the bleak sight of deserted warehouses, closed down shops and empty streets. Today it’s...