Mas Vieux des Aresquiers
Maison du littoral of Hérault
Year of studies : 2022 - competition lost
Surface : 9.3 ha
Contracting Authority : Département de l'Hérault
Project Manager leader : Passelac-Roques-Architectes
Project Manager team : Estudi Marti Franch - La fabrique créative
For this project, Alexis PERROCHEAU, current partner at TELLU, was the project manager in the company EMF. He followed the entire competition. Marti FRANCH, director of the EMF agency, also followed this project with Alexis.
A "reflecting" peninsula, that’s how it would be possible to describe this place which is an emblematic site of the Palavasiens ponds complex. Indeed, the old Mas des Aresquiers is, due to its geographical position but also for its history, a peninsula at the end of the world in the middle of a complex hydrographic system of great beauties that are made of different ponds along the coast. It is a relatively well-preserved place near natural reserves such as the Arésquiers woods or the Frontignans salt marshland. However today this peninsula finds itself in a strategic place. The old Mas des Aresquiers is by many aspects, the reflection of the coastal landscape but also of the entire territory due to its central position which makes it a gateway to understand the richness, the stakes and dynamics of this exceptional environment.
Reflecting the Territory - A gateway to the natural and cultural richness of the coastline
Le Mas vieux des Aresquiers is not only the end of a journey but is on the contrary a gateway into the territory. It is a resource place, to understand and glimpse the dynamics and challenges before going to discover more particularly the richness of the region and the Palavasiens ponds. Whether by bike, on foot, by bus or by car, the Mas is accessible to all and is connected to all traffic networks.
Reflecting the Natural Landscape – Transect of changes in coastal ecosystems
Le Mas des Aresquiers is a concentration of the surrounding landscape. It creates an opportunity to understand the succession of ecosystems in the littoral. From the forest to the salt marshland via the Mediterranean scrubland and the calcareous grassland, the idea of the transect is to find on site, the set of plant successions using the formations already present, strengthening them (by planting to preserve the existing) and by creating a new environment such as saline.
Reflecting the beauty of the site - Punctuate the paths with unique places that celebrate the singularities of the site and its history
The creation of several structures (jetties, platforms, terrases) highlights important points in the landscape observable from the site (Cathedral of Maguelone, Mont Saint-Baudil)
